Diagnosed With Diabetes? 3 Tips For Taking Good Care Of Your Feet

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If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, there are many things you need to watch out for on your body, and one of these things is your feet. This is because when you have diabetes, this restricts blood flow to your feet. High blood sugar can also damage your nerves, including the nerves in your feet. Below are some tips on how you can take good care of your feet so you can help reduce your chances of having problems with them.

Inspect Them Daily

Inspect your feet at the end of each day. This is because even the smallest cut could easily turn into a much larger, infected ulcer. If this happens and you do not get your feet treated, you could lose them or the doctor may have to amputate your entire leg.

Look over your feet for any kind of small cut, swelling, or redness. If you are having a hard time inspecting the bottom of your feet, you can use a mirror to help you.  Make sure your shoes are not too tight as this restricts blood flow even more. If you ever feel like you have a small rock or any other debris stuck in your shoe, get it out immediately, as this can be dangerous for you. If you have nerve damage, your feet may become a little numb. Because of this, you may not feel any pain if you get a cut.

Wash and Moisturize Daily

You need to make sure you keep your feet clean. This is because if they are dirty and you get a cut, this increases the chances of getting an infection. Also, you need to keep your feet moisturized. This is because dry skin can crack, which can lead to a sore. When finished washing, dry them well making sure you get between your toes, and apply a thin coat of moisturizer over your entire foot.

Keep Blood Flowing

You need to also ensure you keep the blood flowing to each of your feet. To do this, each time you sit down you need to put your feet up. A few times per day move your ankles around, up, and down and wiggle your toes for approximately five to 10 minutes. Do not cross your legs when sitting for long periods, and never sit with your legs beneath you.

Talk with a doctor at a clinic like Foot Health Institute about your feet and they can give you many more tips to help you.

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13 April 2017

Foot Tendinitis: How the Podiatrist Helped

When I developed tendinitis of my foot and ankle, my podiatrist helped me on the road to recovery. An over-use injury from the job caused me considerable pain in my foot and ankle. Ice, elevation, rest, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory relieved my inflammation of the tendons. My podiatrist also prescribed physical therapy, which helped restore my mobility. Gentle stretching exercises performed during physical therapy seemed to have a positive effect. I was shown how to follow up these exercises at home. After several weeks of following doctor's orders, my podiatrist was happy with the results. The bottom line is if you're suffering from foot pain or injury, you should see a foot specialist as soon as possible because treatment options are available.