Foot Care For Diabetics

If you, like many others, are managing diabetes, you are more than likely to encounter problems with your legs and feet, as these are two of the most common complications of the disease. Suffering from diabetes puts you at a higher risk for bunions, corns, calluses, ulcers and blisters. These complications generally occur due to high blood sugar levels wreaking havoc on your nerves. It is believed that increased blood sugar levels may harm the nervous system’s cells and enzymes. These damaged nerves can lead to diabetic neuropathy, a condition in which sensation in the hands and feet is lost. Solidea has the perfect solution and foot care for diabetics with our Diabetic Knee-high socks.

Read more below:

What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a condition that affects nerves that are found in your body outside of your brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include numbness and pain in your hands and feet.

Neuropathy is also associated with dry skin experienced by many suffering from diabetes. The affected nerves in the feet cannot receive messages from the brain to sweat, causing the dry skin to crack and increasing the risk of infection due to germs entering the body. Diabetes can also cause the blood vessels in the feet to shrink and harden, making circulation poor and difficult to fight off infection.  

Now that we understand what neuropathy is and how it ties into diabetes and foot care, here are eight tips for a healthy diabetic foot care routine.

Eight Tips for A Healthy Diabetic Foot Care Routine

1. Foot Check – Check your feet daily for redness, cuts, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, and any other changes to skin or nails. To thoroughly check the bottom of your feet, use a mirror or ask a family member or friend for help.
2. Avoid walking barefoot – Always wear socks, slippers or shoes, albeit indoors, to avoid injury. Make sure that there are no objects inside your shoes or slippers that could cause harm. 
3. Wear Diabetic Socks – Unlike conventional socks, diabetic socks help cushion feet from friction and prevent ulcers and blisters from developing while providing slight compression for better circulation. 
4. Wash your feet daily – Wash your feet daily in warm water. Avoid hot water, and do not soak your feet. Dry your feet thoroughly and apply lotion to the top and bottom of your feet. Avoid using cream between your toes, as this could lead to infection. 
5. Keep the blood in your feet flowing – Keep your feet elevated when sitting down, and wiggle your toes for a few minutes while seated throughout the day to keep circulation flowing. 
6. Refrain from removing corns and calluses yourself – Do not use over-the-counter products to remove calluses or corns, as they may burn your skin. Go to a podiatrist instead. 
7. Get your checkups often – Always remember to get your feet checked when going to the doctor to manage symptoms better as and when they appear.
8. Choose feet-friendly activities – Walking, bike riding, or swimming is foot-friendly, but always check with your health care professional first. 

Here at Solidea SA, we pride ourselves on offering some of the best diabetic socks in South Africa and foot care for diabetics. Visit Solidea SA online shop and shop the latest and best diabetic compression socks now!