People with diabetes are quite often prone to developing diabetic foot ulcers. If left untreated the sores can become painful and infected. There are many creams and anti fungal products that prevent the spread of the sores as well as treating them.

The feet are easier to damage when the person has the health condition, and simple accidents such as standing on a small stone can cause damage to the feet. Having the condition can prevent the wound on the foot from healing normally and may lead to painful sores and infection. People with the condition can also become prone to problems with their lower legs.

One of the side effects of the illness is that when the blood has a high sugar content, it can affect nerve sensitivity and some nerves will possibly become permanently damaged, this is one of the reasons that the sores go untreated in people with the health condition as they cannot feel the pain as their nerves are not as sensitive. This means that if the feet are accidentally hurt, then the sensation does not pass to the brain to tell the person that they have been hurt.

Another problem caused by the health condition is the arteries that take the blood to the feet become narrow. Narrowing of the arteries is usually caused by a build up of fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries, preventing the blood from flowing normally, and resulting in poor blood supply. When there is a poor supply of blood, this stops an area with sores from healing properly and the infected area becomes much worse.

The risks of people with the health condition having these sores can be increased if the blood sugar level is not properly kept under control. The age and length of time the person has suffered from the illness will also contribute to the level of risk of the infections developing. The risks can also be increased if the patient has high cholesterol, smokes, has high blood pressure or does not control their weight.

The rate at which sores will heal will depend on many factors, these will include how good a persons circulation is, as well as the persons overall general state of health. When given medical treatment sores will normally heal quite quickly, but if the sores go unnoticed, they can turn nasty and infection can occur. Regular checking of both feet can go a long way to helping to prevent sores from occurring.

By attending routine check ups for the health condition, doctors will usually assess the health of the feet as part of the assessment. There will be minimal chance of developing sores and infections if the condition and other health problems are kept under control. Regular washing and careful drying of the feet can help reduce the chances of any problems with the feet. Try to avoid wearing shoes with bare feet as this will prevent feet from rubbing against the shoes.

Specially designed diabetic socks are available which help with the circulation in the feet. The socks are normally elastic and seam free to allow them to be quite loose fitting. It is also possible to buy anti bacterial socks to keep the feet clean.

I hope you’ve learned a lot from my article on diabetic foot ulcers. If you’d like to learn more about diabetic foot care, be sure to visit my website.

People who suffer from diabetes have to remember to take good care of their feet. Those who have the health condition are more prone to suffering from sores on their feet and therefore checking their feet regularly is very important. Doctors and other health professionals will help the patient with diabetic foot care and give advice about any potential problems.

Generally if the person with the illness spots any problems with their feet then they should consult an expert and not try to deal with the problem their self. Anyone with the health condition need to keep their feet clean, with water that is not too hot. The toenails should be kept short. A daily inspection of both feet including looking between the toes should be carried out. Any signs of dry skin should be treated with moisturiser. An anti fungal cream should be used to clear up infections such as athletes foot.

It is good practice for the patient to get into the habit of wearing shoes or slippers at all times. This will prevent stepping on small object such as stones that can cause cuts to the feet. Shoes should not be worn without socks. The socks should be loose fitting with no elasticated cuffs or seams that can cause rubbing to areas of the feet.

When it comes to buying shoes, you should look for ones that are very comfortable and do not have any areas that will rub and cause bunions, corns or other problems. The front of the shoes should have plenty of space for the toes. To prevent pressure areas, high heels should be avoided. It is a good idea to avoid slip on shoes, buy shoes that have laces or fastenings that do not allow the feet to slide about inside them.

While trying on shoes, the person should wear their usual type of socks. It is a good idea to put a hand inside the shoe to feel if there are any rough areas that may rub against the feet and cause problems. If the patient has unusual shaped feet, they may need to get specially made shoes.

People with the health condition many have damaged nerves due to a high level of sugar in the blood stream and therefore the feet may be more prone to burns as the nerves can not feel the sensation of the heat. It is therefore necessary to avoid using hot water bottles, electric blankets and foot spas. When checking bath water it is necessary to check the temperature with a hand before stepping into the water.

It is possible to buy socks that are specially made to protect the feet against sores, nerve damage and swelling. These socks will help improve the circulation in the feet and lower legs. The socks are generally made of loose fitting materials and have no elastic or seams that can rub against the feet causing problems.

As part of the daily foot inspection routine, you could use one of the many products available on the market. These products are suitable for rough and dry skin and help with the renewal of skin. Antibacterial creams that increase blood flow and prevent infections are also available.

Want to find out more? Learn more about Diabetic Foot Care and check out our range of Diabetic Socks.

Did you know that almost 70% of leg amputations occur in people with diabetes? Startling fact isn’t it? But there are ways to improve the health of your feet and legs through the use of diabetic socks.

Here are 6 health benefits of socks for diabetes sufferers:

#1 Reduce Irritation – Reducing foot irritation is key, and this is where the seamless design of diabetic socks really comes into play.

Traditional socks generally have seams, which can rub against your foot. Over time this friction can cause blisters and other sores.

The seamless design of a diabetic sock greatly reduces friction, thus making the chance of developing blisters, sores and cuts very remote.

#2 No More Pressure – Building on the benefits of a seamless design, is the use of wrinkle-free material.

If a sock is prone to wrinkle then it can put pressure on your feet in much the same way as a seam would. You’ll notice this when a sock bunches up and ‘rolls’ together in certain areas.

The use of wrinkle-proof material is another way of reducing pressure and friction on your feet.

#3 Promote Healthy Circulation – The introduction of a non-binding top has been a key introduction to the diabetes sock.

The usual method for holding your socks in place is tighter stitching, or the use of a band of elastic at the top.

This is a pretty common design, and sounds like a good idea in theory. However, this practice can reduce blood flow and promote poor circulation.

For diabetes sufferers this is already a problem. Arteries can become blocked, and are typically less flexible as a result of high blood-sugar levels. So circulation is already reduced.

However, the non-binding top allows for greater foot circulation.

#4 Control Moisture – Moisture in the shoe can cause two problems. 1. Greater friction. If your sock becomes sodden then it can cling to your foot. The chance of friction and rubbing is much greater when your sock starts clinging. And what does friction cause? Blisters and other sores.

2. Breading ground for bacteria. A warm, moist shoe environment is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria.

Socks for diabetes are made predominantly from cotton, or other breathable materials. This means that any moisture can be allowed to evaporate, and your feet will sweat less in the first place.

Less moisture equals less friction and less bacteria. And this means a healthier, happier foot!

#5 Less Chance of Infection – I’ve spoken about the features of diabetic socks that reduce friction, increase circulation and reduce moisture. But I haven’t said much about why these features are so important.

So here it is: The unique sock design is used to minimize the chance of infection.

Reducing friction gets to the very core of the problem. If you stop friction then you greatly reduce the chance of cuts, sores and blisters from developing in the first place.

While most people take blisters and sores as a painful but short-lived inconvenience, this is not the case if you have diabetes…

Unfortunately for somebody with diabetes, blisters are more likely to turn into a foot ulcer. This is down to poor circulation and a loss of sensation in the foot (nerve damage).

If you duffer from poor circulation then it means your blood flow is somehow restricted. If this is the case then your body cannot heal as efficiently as it should. This leads to a higher chance of injuries becoming infected.

By not reducing circulation any further (non-binding tops) diabetic socks allow your body’s natural repair system to work at full-tilt.

Last but not least, let’s talk about moisture control.

As I’ve already mentioned, a warm moist shoe-environment is the favourite breeding ground for harmful bacteria. This bacteria will cause sores and blisters to develop into foot ulcers.

The breathable materials found in diabetic socks are a direct measure to combat this problem. So now there is no need to become one of the 20% of diabetes sufferers that suffers from a foot ulcer.

#6 Healing Time Reduced – Even with extra care and the best footwear you may still develop a blister or cut on your foot at some point.

However, for the same reasons why diabetes socks reduce the chance of infection, it also means any sores that do develop will heal much faster.

Do you suffer from diabetes? If so you’ll love the security that diabetic socks give you. Why not try the best selling Sensifoot diabetic socks for yourself and feel the difference.

Most of the time severe diabetic foot infections come from a minor irritation of the skin, but can also develop in the bones or muscles. Most of the time diabetics don’t even bother looking at their feet unless they feel pain. This is a very dangerous habit to get into.

The biggest cause of amputation of the lower limbs (other then an accident) is from diabetes. Whats this reasoning? Severe foot infections caused by the lack of daily foot inspections.

Why is it so important to check your feet?

It is important because as diabetes keeps going, your body’s circulation declines and you have less feeling in your legs and feet. It can also be from nerve damage. With this happening, it is very easy for you to get an infection from a cut on your foot or even stubbing your toe and not even knowing.

What can you do to help prevent foot infections?

Daily foot inspections is the number one place to start. Be sure to keep your feet clean and moisturized. Cracks from dry skin can be a perfect environment for infection.

Keep your toenails trimmed. Make sure not cut them too short, you might accidentally clip some of the skin around your toe nail, leaving it exposed to dirt causing infection.

How to tell if you could have a foot infection?

You will see swelling and redness around the infected area. Pain? Not every diabetic foot infection will have pain with it due to the lack of sensation many diabetics suffer. Having a severe infection, you will see pus and possibly a black-n-blue color around the area of infection.

What is a good way to treat a foot infection?

First of all clean the infection the best you can. Then visit your doctor, as most infections will need antibiotics. Most likely the doctor might need further tests to ensure the infection hasn’t gone deeper (like into the muscle or bone.)

If a diabetic foot infection is not treated properly and timely, amputation may be your last option if an option at that.

More information on diabetic foot infection as well as many other subjects such as Healthy Diabetic Foods List, Diabetes Symptoms and Signs In Youths And Adults, Diabetic Foot Care, Healthy Recipes For Diabetics And Nutritional Ideas can be found at diabeticcaloriediet.com

categories: diabetes foot,diabetes foot amputation,diabetes foot infection,diabetic foot care