DIABETICS
SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEIR FEET
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If a person has diabetes, sores do not heal quickly.
So, infections have to be avoided. The diabetic person must watch
out for his or her feet. The person should use footwear; and should
use it properly. The footwear should not be tight, Fungus infections
should be avoided. Feet should be kept clean and dry.
In the case
of a diabetic person, infection spreads rapidly. If treatment
is delay, a wound or infection in the foot may not heal even with
the use of antibiotics. Then, the tissues of the limb die or decay
because of bacterial action. This is called gangrene. Then, the
limb, toe, foot or leg may have to be removed (amputated) by the
surgeon in order to prevent spread of infection to other parts
of the body and to save the person's life.
Also, in a
diabetic person, the blood vessels (arteries or small blood vessels)
may be blocked, leading to numbness, pain while walking, ulcers
and in rare cases, gangrene. People who smoke or chew tobacco
or who have high blood pressure, and if they are already diabetic,
will definitely have more problems with their blood vessels.
The nerves
of the feet may also be affected in a diabetic person. The foot
may not feel pain and may develop ulcers.
The shortage
of blood supply to the legs and the lack of sensation in the feet
are common in aged people. Care of the feet is more important
in the case of the elderly diabetic people. When the elderly diabetic
person is unable to cut toe nails, some other member of the family
should do it, using a nail cutter carefully without hurting the
skin.
REMEMBER:
1. Use footwear always.
2. Take medical advice when you have corn, athlete's foot, fungus
infection, sore or boil on the feet.
3. Cut nails carefully, without hurting the skin.
4. Keep feet clean. Wash feet daily with warm water and dry them
with a soft towel.
5. Use shoes of proper size. Use soft socks. See that they are
clean.
6. Don't smoke or chew tobacco
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