Extra attention for your feet
You take about eight to ten thousand steps every day. And more than half of people will experience foot problems at some point. Good foot care is therefore very important. This applies twice to people with diabetes, because foot complaints are common with them.
As a result of the diabetes, blood vessels and nerves can be damaged. As a result, the blood flows less well through the legs and feet of diabetic patients. As a result, you often have less feeling in the feet.
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Because of that reduced feeling, a wound is not noticeable. You do not notice it, which can cause the wound to become inflamed or become an ulcer – ulcer. In addition, a worse feeling can also ensure that you walk differently with diabetes. This results in deformation of the feet or pressure points.
We describe foot problems as a result of diabetes with ‘diabetic foot’. This includes various abnormalities ranging from excessive calluses and red spots to fungal infections and wounds that do not want to heal. Neglect can even lead to amputation.
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Keep a close eye on your feet, paying particular attention to:
- Cold feet
- Tingling feet with shooting pains
- Less feeling in your feet
- Difficult healing wounds
- Discoloration on toes and foot
Take care of
Fortunately, you can prevent most problems with your feet with good foot care. You can get help from a podiatrist or pedicurist with a diabetes certificate, but you can also do a lot yourself:
- Keep your blood sugar as best you can.
- Never walk barefoot.
- Cut nails straight and not too short.
- Rinse your feet daily with lukewarm water. Do not use a foot bath because that makes the feet soft and therefore vulnerable.
- Dry the feet well after showering, don’t forget the space between the toes.
- After drying, apply a cream to your feet, but not between the toes.
- Do not wear socks with holes, socks that pinch or are too big, or socks with seams.
- Make sure shoes don’t pinch or have pressure points inside. Also check that there is nothing in the shoes that could damage the sole of the foot.
- Inspect the feet every day. Watch out for blisters, cracks, scratches, wounds and discolorations, including on the underside.
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