Diabetes causes a condition of painful nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy. Although neuropathy can affect your entire body, the legs and feet are most commonly at risk for complications. Nerve damage opens up an array of health problems, including the loss of sensation. It becomes extremely difficult for diabetics to detect pain as easily or readily as someone that is not diabetic. This explains why people with diabetes so frequently get infections. A minor cut on the foot can become infected without any noticeable pain, leading to a serious infection and even amputation. If you have diabetes, it's critical that you understand the link between foot care and diabetes. Talk to your podiatrist in Chicago if you have diabetes to find out what you can be doing in order to manage this condition for a healthy body and an improved quality of life. Inspect Your Feet Every Day Careful inspection of your feet on a regular basis is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent the development of major foot complications caused by diabetes. Examine both feet every day. If an injury is suspected, no matter how minor, get to your Chicago podiatrist right away for a professional evaluation. Other unusual changes, such as temperature, skin color, pain or swelling may also be warning signs of an infection and will need to be treated by your podiatrist. In addition to self exams, if you have diabetes you should visit your podiatrist in Chicago regularly- at least once a year- for a thorough check up. Your podiatrist can detect warning signs or changes, such as broken skin or ulcers that can lead to serious consequences when not cared for right away. Practice Good Foot Hygiene If you have diabetes, you'll want to pay extra attention to keeping your feet safe and clean in order to prevent serious problems. Wash feet each day with warm water and a mild soap Keep feet dry, especially between the toes Moisturize your feet with a non-irritating lotion to prevent cracks and sores that lead to infection Avoid smoking as it reduces blood flow to your feet Prevent ingrown toenails by keeping them neatly trimmed Wear clean, dry socks and change them every day Never walk barefoot in order to protect feet from harmful objects Visit your Chicago podiatrist for safe removal of corns and calluses Avoid Amputation Because diabetes impairs blood flow to your feet and damages the nerves, a small injury can quickly develop into an ulcer which is difficult to treat. When an ulcer causes infection deep in the tissues and bone, amputation may be necessary. Diabetic ulcers are the most common foot injuries leading to lower limb amputation. Luckily, many of these amputations could be prevented through simple preventative foot care. Diabetes presents an array of challenges, including serious problems with your feet. The good news is that with the help of your Chicago podiatrist and your regular physician, you can manage and control your diabetes in order to avoid foot complications- and that includes the frightening thought of amputation. Eat healthy, stay active and manage your blood sugar level. Combined with regular foot care and inspections, you'll see an improvement in your health and your quality of life.
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