Diabetic Footcare and Shoes

Wearing proper shoes is essential to diabetic footcare

People with diabetes often experience problems with their feet, making footcare an important part of everyday life. Part of a diabetic footcare plan should be making sure you have comfortable shoes specifically designed for diabetes sufferers.

The reason for such a high occurrence of footcare problems is because diabetes is a disease where high blood glucose levels can gradually damage the nerves, blood vessels, kidneys, and eyes. Diabetes can also lead to a weaker immune system and decreases in ability to fight infection, so when it is not controlled, damage to the organs and impairment of the immune system is likely to result from diabetes. When these symptoms occurr, problems with the feet can quickly become serious. This is why you sometimes hear of diabetes patients needing amputation of their lower legs.

When the nervous system is damaged, a person with diabetes may have numbness in his or her feet. The normal sweat and oil production that lubricates the skin of the foot is impaired, and all these symptoms factored together can cause abnormal pressure on the skin, joints, and bones in the foot during walking, which can lead to a breakdown of the skin on the feet and sores may develop. These wounds are often difficult to heal because of the impaired immune system and damaged blood vessels. Infection of the muscles, connective tissue, and bones can occur and eventually develop into gangrene, and because of the poor blood circulation, antibiotics have a difficult time reaching the site of the infection, and this is where many people with diabetes must seek amputation of the foot or leg. If the infection is spread into the bloodstream, it can be a life threatening condition.

A person with diabetes must be completely aware of the best ways to prevent foot problems by recognizing the signs early, and by seeking the correct treatment when problems do occur. Although there have been great improvements in footcare for persons with diabetes, the best ways to prevent foot problems are still to control your blood glucose levels and wear proper diabetic shoes.

People with diabetes should learn how to examine their own feet and be able to recognize early indicators and symptoms of diabetic footcare problems. You should also learn what you can treat yourself, and what might require a doctors treatment, or in the worst case scenario, seeking emergency treatment.

Poorly fitting shoes are frequently the cause of most foot problems for people with diabetes. If you have sore spots, blisters, corns, calluses, or pain associated with wearing your regular shoes, you need to get new footwear that fits properly as soon as possible. If you have common abnormalities of the foot such as flat feet, bunions, or hammertoes, you should probably get some prescription shoes or shoe inserts.

Most people can feel when their shoes are rubbing against their feet, possibly causing abrasions or other wounds to the foot, but some people with diabetes experience numbness in their feet, and may not recognize when their shoes don't fit properly. Diabetes sufferers may not feel minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes, and blisters on the feet. Usually, people can notice if there is a small stone in their shoe and will remove it, however, a diabetic might not be able to feel the stone and its constant rubbing can easily create a sore spot on the foot.

So in closing, the best prevention for foot problems is:

1. Control your diabetes

2. Give yourself regular leg and foot self-examinations

3. Know how to recognize problems

4. Exercise regularly if you're able

5. Avoid injury to your feet

6. Have your doctor examine your feet at least once each year to test for feeling and nerve damage.

7. CHOOSE PROPER FOOTWEAR. Sturdy, comfortable shoes should be worn whenever possible to keep your feet protected.