if you are diabetic, you need to take care of your feet very diligently. Individuals with long-standing and uncontrolled blood glucose are at serious risk of complications. There is a lot to manage if you have diabetes. This includes your blood glucose levels, your blood pressure and your cholesterol, weight and diet and exercises. With these, your feet may be last on your mind. But daily care is one of the best ways to prevent foot complications.

What are the risk factors that increase the risk of foot problems in diabetics?

Basically long-standing poorly controlled diabetes is an important consideration. Hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking and poor foot hygiene further complicates the problem. Not wearing properly fitting footwear is very common. A poor sensation at the foot is a major risk factor. In the early stages, peripheral neuropathy may cause a burning sensation at the feet. Later this may be associated with less or no sensation at the feet. This encourages mild injuries and infections that further leads to a very rapid spread of the infection.

How to prevent nerve damage course?

stop it from getting to Please keep your blood glucose in your target range as much as possible. Do not smoke as smoking reduces blood supply to your feet. Please follow a healthy eating plan, including eating more fruits and vegetables and less sugar and salt. Get physically more active. 20 to 30 minutes of brisk walk is all that is required. Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor.

When to see your doctor?

During physical activity, if you have cramps in your buttocks, thighs or calf area, tingling or burning in your feet should make you see your doctor. If you have a loss of sensation of touch on your feet or reduced ability to feel hot or cold please see your doctor. Dry, cracked skin of your feet and loss of hair on your feet, toes and lower legs should not be neglected. A blister, sore, ulcer, infected corn or an ingrown toenail needs urgent attention. Fungus infection in between your toes such as athlete’s foot or chilblains should be treated aggressively.

How to keep your feet as healthy as possible?

Wash them every day and dry them thoroughly. Apply a light coat of petroleum jelly to help prevent skin cracking. Do not remove calluses, bunions, corns or warts by your self. Trim your nails straight across, and try not to cut them too short. Do not go barefoot indoors or outdoors. If your shoes do not fit you properly, talk to your doctor about prescription diabetic shoes. Wear closed-toe shoes. Avoid shoes with pointy toes. Do not soak your feet. Keep the area in between your toes dry.

What are the important foot care tips?

Good foot care may pre-vent wounds or ulcers becoming problematic. Do a daily foot check of your entire foot. Look for redness, wounds, bruising, blisters and discolouration. You may use a magnifying glass to have a better look. Regularly check your feet for sensation using a feather or other light object. Regularly check your feet whether your feet can feel warm and cold temperatures. Wear thin, clean dry socks that don’t have elastic bands. Wiggle your toes every day and move your ankles frequently. This helps to keep blood flowing to your feet. Report to your doctor if you have numbness, tingling or burning sensation.

How does diabetes ultimately affect your feet?

The earliest phase is the loss of sensation over feet. A small blister or a small pebble in your sock will lead to cuts and blisters. This may go unnoticed. Cuts and sores can become infected. The blood supply to the foot also gets jeopardised. This leads to poor healing. Sometimes a bad infection never heals, this may lead to gangrene. Gangrene and foot ulcers that do not get better with treatment can lead to amputation of your toe, foot or part of your leg. A surgeon may perform an amputation to prevent a bad infection from spreading to the rest of your body, and to save your life. Good foot care is important to prevent serious infections and gangrene.

What is Charcot’s foot?

Nerve damage from diabetes may lead to changes in your feet, such as redness, warmth and swelling. Later bones in your feet and toes can shift or break. This may cause your foot to have an odd shape. This is rocker bottom or Charcot’s foot.

How to protect your feet from hot and cold?

If you have nerve damage from diabetes, you may burn your feet, but may not know about it due to poor sensations. Always wear shoes on hot pavement and hot or very cold floor Keep your feet away from heaters and open fires. Do not put a hot water bottle or heating pad on your feet. To have normal healthy feet in diabetics, check your feet every day Keep your feet clean and dry. A moisturiser to be used to prevent cracking. Do not use it between toes. Trim your toenails carefully. Wear clean, dry socks. Always wear cushioned shoes that fit well. Keep your blood glucose levels in check along with your blood pressure and cholesterol values. Do not smoke and have a healthy lifestyle.