If you have diabetes, your feet require increased attention. Specially developed rules can reduce the risk to which the legs are exposed to this disease. The rules are especially relevant for patients with reduced sensitivity of the feet. Sensitivity is determined by the doctor at an annual examination in the “Diabetic Foot” office.
To prevent the development of “diabetic foot”:
- Even with minor inflammation, you should see a doctor.
- Wash your feet every day, and dry them carefully (without rubbing), while thoroughly rinsing and drying the spaces between your toes!
- Every day, inspect your feet and the spaces between your toes for blisters, cuts, and scrapes.
- Avoid exposing your feet to high and low temperatures.
- Check your shoes every day to see if there are any foreign objects in them, or if the lining is torn, because… all of these can chafe or injure the skin of your feet. Magnetic insoles are contraindicated for diabetes mellitus.
- Wear stockings and socks that are just the right size and change them every day.
- Choose shoes that don’t require breaking in/stretching. Do not wear tight shoes or shoes that squeeze your toes. If there is severe deformation of the feet, it is necessary to make special orthopedic shoes. Street shoes should not be worn on bare feet. Never wear shoes with a strap between your toes, do not walk barefoot, and especially on a hot surface.
- Do not use iodine, potassium permanganate, alcohol, brilliant green, because… they have a tanning effect. Treat abrasions and cuts with hydrogen peroxide (3% solution).
- Never use chemicals or preparations to soften calluses (such as Salipod patch), or remove them with cutting tools (razor, scalpel, etc.).
- Trim your toenails straight, do not round the corners too much.
- If the skin of your feet is dry, lubricate them (except for the spaces between the toes!) with a fatty cream or special creams with urea
- You can’t smoke. Smoking increases the risk of leg amputation by 2,5 times.
Of course, it may seem that all these rules are far-fetched. But, in his practice, the doctor quite often sees leg injuries that occur where no one expects them.
For example:
- The patient suffered severe burns to her legs. She walked barefoot on hot asphalt, but due to decreased sensitivity, she did not notice that the asphalt was hot. Also, you can often get burned by heating pads or hot water.
- Very often the skin of the fingers is damaged when the nails are cut, but they do not feel pain. This leads to ulcers, suppuration, and gangrene.
- The patient accidentally stepped on a button on the floor, but did not feel any pain. This led to the development of an infected wound.
All these situations can be prevented by following these 12 rules.