How and Why it's Important to Take Care of Your Feet as a Diabetic

[AD] Diabetes is a disability that requires any diabetic to be vigilant of their blood glucose levels and report any changes in the body due to diabetes. Good diabetes control is important to prevent any future problems with the feet, vision and kidneys. I've been a diabetic for 20 years now, and it's certainly been a learning curve as to making sure I inject the right amount of insulin and cut back on the chocolate and carbs. It's important to take every aspect of your body when you have diabetes, especially when it comes to your feet.

Photo by Min An via Pexels

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which a person's blood sugar level is too high. It can occur because the body doesn't produce enough insulin or the insulin it produces isn't good enough to control glucose levels. It could also be because your body can't produce any insulin whatsoever. 

The two main types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. Other types of diabetes include gestational and type 3c.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

There are different symptoms of diabetes, including:

• Going to wee a lot, especially at night
• Feeling really thirsty
• Feeling more tired than usual
• Losing weight without trying
• Genital itching or thrush
• Cuts and wounds that take longer to heal
• Blurred vision

If you have any of these symptoms, it may not be diabetes, but it's important to get checked out by a doctor just in case!

Diabetes is generally diagnosed with a blood test and may involve providing a urine sample. 

Which type of diabetes do you have?

Well, my type of diabetes is called CFD (Cystic Fibrosis diabetes). Cystic Fibrosis doesn't allow my pancreas to work properly. The pancreas's two main functions are:

• producing enzymes to help digest food
• producing a hormone called insulin, which is important for keeping blood glucose levels under control.

CFD can have features of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In CFD, the pancreas produces some insulin, but not enough. 

I was diagnosed with CFD when I was 11. I wasn't putting on any weight, and my lung function was declining. Another big giveaway was that I was feeling faint before lunch. Once I took in some food, I would feel better. 

As I said earlier, foot care when you have diabetes is important because any raised blood sugar levels can damage the small blood vessels that supply the nerves in your feet. This means that if I get a cut, sore or infection in my foot, it needs to be checked by my GP to prevent any further damage.

Photo by Yan Krukau via Pexels.

Here's how to take care of your feet as a diabetic:

1) Manage blood sugars, cholesterol and blood pressure

It's important to have a target range in mind when it comes to monitoring your blood sugars. For me, my perfect range for before meals is between 4.0-6.0. For after meals (around two hours after I've finished eating), I like it to be below 10.0, 11.0 at a push. Having good control of these three things can prevent any damage to the feet and prevent any previous damage from worsening. 

2) Check your feet daily

Checking your feet as a diabetic is important so that if anything doesn't look or feel right, it's important to get the problem sorted sooner rather than later. Your GP may refer you to a podiatrist so they can decide the best course of treatment. I check mine in the morning and night, as that's when I apply my foot cream. Speaking of foot cream...

3) Moisturise your feet

It's best to use an emollient cream, especially with a urea base, as it will keep the skin healthy. Moisturising your feet is important for everyone to do, especially those with diabetes. Dry and/or cracked skin on the feet can lead to issues.

Also, it's vital to wash feet and nails every day as a diabetic to keep them clean and free from infection. To do this, just use a mix of soap and warm water.

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

4) Make sure your footwear fits

We've all been there - we buy new shoes and sometimes they cause a blister or two or rub on the back of the foot. As a diabetic, little ailments like this can cause infections or ulcers, so wearing the right-fitting shoes is vital to prevent that.

Having a custom insole design would be good for diabetics who struggle with regular insoles and want extra comfort, and know that their feet will not be at risk of blisters, etc. Custom insole software would be the way forward to look after your feet properly.

Good practice for when purchasing new shoes is to wear them around the house for 20-30 minutes to make sure rubbing doesn't occur. 

5) Cut your nails carefully

Ok, not the most pleasant beauty task, but it needs to be done! Did you know that diabetics are recommended to use nail clippers instead of nail scissors to cut toenails? This is because nail scissors pose a greater risk of cutting your skin while using them. Nail clippers are a much safer option. 

It's important to make sure that diabetics cut their toenails often, but not too short. I use an emery board to smooth the nail and file down the sides so there's no risk of nail ingrowth. 

6) Keep on top of podiatry appointments

I see my podiatrist once a year for review to check for signs of nerve damage. Diabetics should always go to their GP as soon as they spot an issue with their feet. A GP will refer you to your local NHS podiatrist. Also, make sure that you have a contact number for the podiatry department in case you need to see them in between appointments.

These are the best methods for taking care of your feet as a diabetic

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Also, if you have any questions about diabetes which I haven't mentioned here already, comment below! 

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