Foot Problems – Diabetes Under Control

One of the most common and serious complications of diabetes is foot problems. If you do not manage your diabetes well, you can develop numerous foot complications such as calluses, corns, blisters and ulcers. Sometimes, these foot problems may also lead to amputations. Therefore, foot care is quintessential in diabetes.

The importance of foot care is even more in the months of monsoon. Monsoons may bring relief from the summer heat, but they also come with a crowd of bacterial, fungal and viral infections. If you have diabetes, you are more prone to getting these infections, especially in your feet, and your footcare becomes more imperative as the wounds take a longer time to heal in diabetes patients.

Why Are Diabetics More Prone To Foot Infections In Monsoons?

Weak Immune System

High blood sugar levels can damage your immune system by reducing the number of white blood cells in your body or lowering their ability to fight diseases. A weak immune system makes your body more prone to getting a bacterial infection in monsoons and also delays the process of healing wounds, thereby increasing the risk of ulcers and amputations.

Diabetic Neuropathy

People with diabetes may also suffer from diabetic neuropathy, a condition in which high blood sugar levels damage the nerves and blood vessels in your body, leading to a loss of sensation in your feet. Therefore, if you get an infection in monsoons, you might remain unaware of it, causing it to worsen with time.

Poor Blood Circulation

High blood sugar levels can thicken the blood and impair the blood flow to the feet. In addition, it may also cause peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition in which blood vessels narrow down and obstruct the blood flow to the limbs. All this can consequently affect the body’s ability to heal wounds.

How To Take Care Of Your Feet In Monsoons?

Regulate Your Blood Sugar Levels

If you manage your blood sugar levels well, you can heal your monsoon infections on time and prevent any severe complications. Therefore, make sure to eat a healthy and balanced diet, exercise regularly and take your diabetes medications.

Exercise Every Day

Exercising helps improve the blood circulation in your body, especially in your feet. Furthermore, it also helps to regulate your blood sugar levels. Therefore, exercise for at least half an hour every day.

Check Your Feet Daily

Inspect your feet every day twice for cuts, wounds and blisters. Also, check your toenails as they get infected quite easily during monsoons. In case you suffer from any wound, apply an antibiotic cream or consult with your healthcare professional immediately.

Keep Your Feet Clean

Wash and clean your feet regularly, especially after coming from outside. It will help reduce the risk of infections and other foot problems.

Treat Corn and Calluses

If you have corn and calluses, consult your doctor and treat them immediately. If not treated on time, they may develop into ulcers.

Keep Your Toenails Trimmed

It is essential to trim your toenails regularly. Toenails can cause cuts and damage to the skin and lead to wounds and infections.

Wear Water-Resistant Shoes

Wear comfortable and water-resistant shoes to prevent getting sores and blisters in monsoons.

Always Keep Your Feet Dry

Make sure your feet are always dry. If your feet get wet in the rain, come home and dry them immediately with a cotton cloth. Then, moisturise it to prevent cracked skin. Also, try to avoid wearing moist socks in monsoons.

Avoid Walking Barefoot

When you walk barefoot, you may get in contact with germs and bacteria. Therefore, avoid walking barefoot as much as possible.

Keep The Blood Circulation Active

Whenever you are sitting, try to keep your feet high and wiggle your feet and toes to improve the blood circulation to the feet.

Boost Your Immunity

As both diabetes and monsoons affect your immunity, it is essential to boost your immune system. Eat a diet full of antioxidants and vitamin C rich foods, such as citrus fruits, ginger, garlic, onions, mushrooms, etc.

The Bottom Line

If you have diabetes, you are more prone to getting foot infections in monsoons. In diabetes, these foot infections may also give rise to severe complications, including amputations. Therefore, it is crucial to take care of your feet during monsoons and prevent any foot infections or problems.

References

One of the most common and serious concerns in diabetes patients is foot problems. From calluses and corns to blisters and ulcers, you can develop numerous foot problems in diabetes if proper care is not taken. Infections in feet may cause foot ulcers and may even lead to amputations. Foot problems in type 2 diabetes are more common because most of the time, the symptoms of type 2 diabetes get ignored and your blood sugar levels get out of control. In this case, high blood sugar levels can make your feet more prone to problems. At times, foot problems are developed even before type 2 diabetes has been diagnosed, leading to some serious health concerns.

Symptoms Of Diabetes-Related Foot Problems

Numbness or tingling sensation in feet
Loss of sensation in feet
Wounds without pain
Cuts, blisters or red spots on feet
Corns or calluses
Dry or cracked skin
Wounds not getting healed in due time

Causes Of Foot Problems In Diabetes

Diabetic Neuropathy

High blood sugar levels can cause damage to nerves and blood vessels in the body. People who have diabetic neuropathy either feel extreme pain in their feet or no pain at all. Damaged nerves can also lead to loss of sensation in the feet, due to which, people with diabetes may suffer from wounds but remain unaware of it, which might lead to infections and ulcers in their feet. Type 2 diabetes patients are at a higher risk of getting diabetic neuropathy as they may take time to identify symptoms of diabetes and get the disease diagnosed.

Poor Blood Circulation

People with diabetes may develop diabetic vascular disease. It is a condition in which blood vessels narrow down and impair the flow of blood to the limbs. High blood sugar levels can also thicken the blood and may affect the circulation in the body. Poor circulation in feet can adversely affect the body’s ability to heal foot wounds, causing further damage to the feet.

Weak Immune System

Uncontrolled blood sugar levels cause damage to the immune system by reducing the number of white blood cells or their ability to fight diseases. A weak immune system may delay the process of healing wounds, making feet more prone to infections and ulcers.

Tips For Diabetic Foot Care

The best way to take care of your feet in diabetes is by controlling your blood sugar levels. Follow your doctor’s recommendations and take medications sincerely. Controlled blood sugar levels will reduce your chances of getting diabetic neuropathy as well as increase your chances to heal wounds faster.

Nutrition is extremely important in diabetes. Having a balanced and nutritious diet will keep your blood sugar levels controlled and prevent damage to your feet. Include fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet and avoid processed and packaged food to control diabetes effectively.

Exercising improves the blood circulation in your body, especially in your feet. Stay active and exercise every day to keep your feet healthy.

Wash and clean your feet regularly. This will reduce the chances of getting infections and other foot problems. Make sure your feet are dry all the time.

If you have corn and calluses, consult your doctor to figure out the best way to take care of them. If proper care is not taken, they may develop into ulcers.

Trim your nails regularly. This will prevent toenails from causing any cuts or damage to the skin.

Wear comfortable shoes and socks all the time. This will prevent your feet from getting sores and blisters. You must never walk barefoot if you have diabetes.

Keep your feet up high when you are sitting and wiggle your feet and toes occasionally to keep the blood circulation active.

Whenever you visit your doctor, make sure to get your feet checked for any complications. Regular check-ups can help you monitor your foot health.

Do self check-ups of your feet every day. Look out for wounds, blisters and cuts to prevent infections.

In case of any wound, clean it with water and soap immediately and apply an antibiotic cream on it. This will prevent the wound from forming an infection. Consult your doctor if the wound doesn’t heal soon.

The Final Word

Foot problems are common in diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes. Special care of your feet needs to be taken in order to prevent diabetic foot problems. There are many causes of foot problems in diabetes. Understanding the cause of the same will help you prevent further damage to the feet. With proper foot care and by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, one can avoid foot problems in diabetes quite effectively.