BodyCare Site

You’ve probably heard it said before that people with diabetes have to take very special care of their feet. But what’s the problem as it relates to diabetics and foot problems? You should know that not taking care of your feet when you’re diabetic can actually lead to some pretty serious health complications including amputation.

When a person has diabetes, it makes them more vulnerable to foot issues since diabetes damages the nerves and can reduce blood flow to the feet. The American Diabetes Association says that about one in five people with diabetes who seek hospital care do so because of foot problems.

If you are a diabetic, it’s important to wash and dry your feet every day using mild soap and warm water. Pat your skin dry and do not rub. Do make sure that your feet are thoroughly dry before you put on socks or shoes. After you wash your feet, use lotion to prevent any cracking but don’t put the lotion between your toes.

Make sure to inspect your feet each day by checking the tops and bottoms. If you can’t see your feet, have someone else check them on a daily basis. What you’re looking for is dry or cracked skin, scratches, blisters, sores or cuts. If you see any redness or have increased warmth or tenderness, keep a watchful eye on that. Look for ingrown toenails, calluses or corns. Do not pop any blisters or sores that are on your feet. Instead, use a bandage and wear a different pair of shoes if that is causing the problem.

Diabetic should never go barefoot and always wear comfortable shoes. Avoid shoes that have pointed toes are high heels. Open toed shoes are also not a good idea for diabetic because you risk injury or infection.

Heres some tips from Dr. Corey Fox of Massapequa Podiatry Associates discussing the dos and don’t of summer foot wear.

The first thing he recommended is, “You shouldn’t be wearing the same pair of flip flops year in and year out. They wear out and they are not very supportive. Most people have irritation between the first and second toes where the thong goes and people tend to buy them not properly fitting.”

Blisters between the toes should never be ignored because they can lead to possible infections. The heel should never extend beyond the flip flop. If the flip flop is too short you will get calluses and cracks to the heel.

Dr. Fox recommends flip flops made of soft leather or synthetics. There is much less irritation with the soft leather. The flip flop should bend gently but no shoe or no flip flop should bend in half because it should have some support.

He doesn’t recommend people walk barefoot because of “sharp objects, puncture wounds, hot sand, shells, broken bottles, those are just the physical things that can hurt you,” he said.

There are also warts, viruses and bacteria that can penetrate the foot if you are barefoot. Viruses and fungus that can cause plantar warts or athlete’s foot can live in dead skin cells.

“These things can live not attached to a foot for 4 to 6 months. You can pick these up by going barefoot, in the sand, on strange carpet such as a summer rental, hotel carpets, pools, public areas, and public bathrooms. I wouldn’t recommend going barefoot in any of these places,” Fox said.

Even pets sufer Diabetes. Diabetes in cats is stongly linked to obesity. Owners need to be aware of the signs:

Diabetes and Pets

“Diabetes, for example, rose 32 percent in dogs since 2006, from 12.2 cases per 10,000 to 17.4 cases per 10,000. Cat diabetes rose 16 percent, from 55.5 cases per 10,000 in 2006 to 64.3 cases per 10,000 in 2010.

In cats, diabetes is strongly linked to obesity, which is also on the rise in pets, Klausner said. The reason for the doggie diabetes increase is less clear, as obesity and diabetes are not as strongly linked in dogs. Much of the increase in dog diabetes may be a result of better diagnostic tests, said North Carolina veterinarian Ernie Ward, who was not involved in the report. For our increasingly fat population of cats, he said, he was surprised the number of diabetes diagnoses wasn’t even higher.”

Here are 7 foot care tips for Diabetics:

1. Wash your feet daily with soap and water. Don’t use hot water or soak your feet. Make sure your feet are dry, especially the area between your toes.

2. Apply a gentle hand cream especially if your feet are rough and dry.

3. Inspect your feet daily for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling of any other problem. To see the base of your feet use a mirror.

4. Cut your toenails to follow the shape of the end of your toes, not deep into the corners. This is best done after your bath or shower.

5. Protect your feet by wearing properly fitting shoes. Run your hand around the inside of your shoes to check there is nothing that will hurt your feet.

6. Seamless socks will help to avoid irritating your feet. Having said that, stockings and socks should be changed daily.

This could be very important section of this specific theme.

7. See your podiatrist regularly. Do not hesitate to see your podiatrist or health care provider about any problems.

Summer: sun. heat and humidity. Just what cyclists don’t need in sensitive areas. Take a look at Neat 3B – the worlds first safe and effective action cream to prevent sweat rash and chafing.

“3B Action Cream incorporates an effective antiperspirant in an emollient (to reduce the amount of sweat produced) and a soothing cream base for application to areas where skin surfaces rub together and become inflamed”

http://www.neatfeat.com/c-39-sweat-rash-and-chafing.aspx

Do your feet feel dry and cracked? It’s easy to forget about foot care while our toes are snug in warm, woolly socks and boots over winter time. Its easy to get your feet healthy for the summer months ahead.
Flat-heeled winter boots are fashionable but often lack support, which can cause foot, heel and back pain plus aggravate existing foot problems.

Dry, scaling skin builds-up on feet because of dry winter weather, home heating systems and hard water. Although nice, frequent hot baths aren’t advise able. The hot water will wash away your body’s natural oils and leaves skin dry.
I product like Neat Feat Foot & Heel Balm will clear up cracked heels, often within a week. After that Neat Feat Foot & Leg Moisturizer will keep them smooth and moisturized.

Smelly feet can usually prevented and treated by following some simple steps. Invest in a good foot-spray or powder deodorizer and use regularly. Neat Feat have a great 2 for 1 deal on for their highly effective Shoe Powder – check it out here www.neatfeat.com/shoe-powder. Applying antibacterial ointmint may also help. This may sound strange, but soak your feet daily in lukewarm water – use a mild soap or foot treatment product or try soaking your feet in strong black/green tea for 30 minutes. The tannic acids in tea kills the bacteria and closes the pores, keeping your feet dry longer. Dry thoroughly.

If your looking for a selection of quality Orthotics check out this video. The New Sport Insole by Neat Feat provides Arch, Heel and Metatersal support. You can get more information here: http://www.neatfeat.com/c-43-heel-care.aspx

When your looking at purchasing an Orthotic Sandal – what features are beneficial? You really want a sandal that will support your heel and foot. Aim for something with Arch, Heel and Metataral support. This will help to reduce foot, leg, back and hip fatigue. It will also enable you to stay on your feet longer and more comfortably.

Diabetes can lead to serious foot problems such as neuropathy (nerve damage which causes reduced or loss of sensation) and wounds called ulcers. People with diabetes are more prone to skin conditions and infections. Neuropathy can lead to secondary conditions such as bunions, hammer toes and Charcot Foot (collapse of the Charcot joint in the middle of the foot). Ulcers are typically caused by excessive friction or pressure and cuts or scrapes to the foot that do not heal. People with neuropathy often cut or injure their feet unknowingly because of the lost sensation, and this can lead to an ulcer because often the injury goes undetected.