Healthy Feet Mean Less Diabetic Complications
By Christine Emmick
Maintaining foot health is especially important to those with diabetes. Increased pressure on the foot may cause blisters or sores, and even a small sore can become a big problem due to the effects of the disease. “Without proper attention and care, a small injury can develop into an open sore (ulcer) that can be difficult to treat. Sometimes amputation is necessary if an infection severely damages the tissue and bone,” says Amputation and Diabetes: How to Protect Your Feet, a report from the Mayo Clinic.
The American Diabetes Association warns that people with diabetes have several factors that require special foot care. These can include:
- Neuropathy -When the nerves of the foot become damaged, it lessens the sensations of hot, cold and pain. People with neuropathy may injure themselves and not know it until infection has set in. To keep this from happening, it is recommended that diabetics wear protective footwear at all times.
- Changes in the Skin – Damaged nerves to the foot also inhibit the body’s ability to control the amount of moisture and oil in the skin. The ADA recommends keeping the foot dry warning that, “extra moisture can lead to infection.” Specially designed shoes and socks can help keep moisture away.
- Calluses – Calluses build up more rapidly on diabetic feet due to the increased pressure areas under the foot. Sometimes doctors can cut calluses or prescribe daily use of a pumice stone, but certain conditions, such as an active infection, may prevent this. If removal isn’t wise, calluses can be accommodated by therapeutic inserts.
- Foot Ulcers –Foot ulcers are small sores that are often caused by ill fitting shoes. They should never be ignored, even if they are not painful, since they can lead to a serious infection requiring amputation. If an ulcer is ignored, it may lead to the loss of an entire limb.
- Poor Circulation – Diabetes, as well as other diseases and lifestyle choices, can lead to poor circulation. This presents special challenges for feet and hands due to the decreased blood flow to these extremities. Feet may be cold due to circulation problems, but the ADA cautions against warming feet with hot water or heating pads. The best way to warm cold feet is to wear comfortable socks. Also, walking, only while your feet are in good health and in well-fitting shoes, can increase circulation.
Diabetics are much more likely to need an amputation, but with proper care and well-fitting, comfortable shoes, people with diabetes might be able to avoid losing toes, feet or legs. Many insurance plans, including Medicare, may cover special footwear for diabetics.
Dr. Comfort’s line of footwear is designed with the diabetic’s needs in mind. Their state of the art manufacturing processes and innovative materials, like Nano Bamboo Charcoal Fibers, enable those with diabetes, edema, neuropathy and circulation problems to care for their feet properly. This is why Ferri Pharmacy has become a distributor of the Dr. Comfort line of footwear. For almost 50 years Ferri Pharmacy has brought quality health products to their customers. They are one of the few distributors of Dr. Comfort products in North America. For more information about Dr. Comfort products, visit Ferri Pharmacy's contact page at ferripharmacy.com or call 724.327.6611.
Christine Emmick is a health and foods writer living with her family in Pittsburgh. Her gluten free blog, Gluten Free Fantasy (glutenfreefantasy.blogspot.com) has been featured nationwide. She may be contacted through her Facebook page at Christine Emmick
Resources:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/amputation-and-diabetes/DA00140
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/foot-complications.html