diabetes

The Link Between Your Feet and Diabetes

If you or a loved one has diabetes, make sure that foot inspections become a daily priority.

Site Staff Health & Wellness

diabetes
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCKPHOTOS.COM

Feet are amazing structures of the body; they maintain the weight of the different organs and systems of our anatomy. Without them, humans would be limited in evolutionary development.

According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Association, 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes face nervous system impairment, which is the loss of feeling in your feet or hands.

A risk of diabetes is foot problems. It can all begin with a simple problem such as calluses and blisters. Cracked or peeling skin may occur due to damaged nerves, which causes the oils and moisture in your foot to stop producing.

Any minor injury is a cause for alarm with diabetes. Because of the decreased blood flow, injuries are slow to heal and infections are likely to spread quickly. If the infection doesn’t’ heal, it can lead to gangrene, which is the death of a body tissue that leads to amputation.

Diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage, is associated with weakness, numbness, tingling, pain and loss of feeling in your feet. This can lead to an infection or injury.

If you or a loved one has diabetes, make sure that foot inspections become a daily priority. Main things to look for are bruises, redness, ulcers, scratches, cuts and swelling. You can also take care of your feet daily by:

• Washing your feet with warm water

• Applying quality lotion on your feet

• Trimming your toe nails straight across

• Wearing loose socks to bed

• Not smoking

Inspect your feet each day in order to stop problems before they become worse. For a physician referral, call JFK Memorial Hospital at 844-227-3461.

JFK Memorial Hospital

47111 Monroe St.
Indio, CA 92201
760-347-6191
www.jfkmemorialhosp.com