Diabetic Foot Care
Today, we’re going to talk about what you need to know about your feet if you have diabetes. You’ve probably heard that you should pay special attention to your feet if you have diabetes, and there are a number of reasons for that.
Neuropathy and Dry Skin
One of them is something called neuropathy. Diabetes can have an effect on the nerves, especially in your feet and legs. This can call several different things, such as painful symptoms. Sometimes there are tingling and shooting pains, but other times, there is just numbness, and those two things are quite different. Numbness is a problem, since pain is nature’s way of telling us that we have a problem. If something hurts, we check it out and we usually do something to get it fixed. If it doesn’t hurt, we don’t notice it, especially when it’s on your feet and in a shoe. Therefore, it’s important to inspect your feet and look at them every day, and to pay special attention to the bottom of your feet and between the toes. You need to pay special attention to your skin, as diabetes can have a drying effect on the skin and cause cracks. Cracks in the skin, if untreated, can create wounds which can be difficult to heal in the diabetic patient. These are all things that we examine at the Hermiston Family Foot Clinic and talk about if you come in for a diabetic foot exam.
Proper Shoes
When you come in for an appointment, we will also talk about proper shoes. Shoes aren’t always meant to fit the foot. Often, they’re made for fashion and decoration. We’ll talk about the shoes you should be wearing, if you have diabetes. We’ll also be sure that you take care of your skin and nails and make sure that you know what you need to be aware of.
This is something that we do all the time and every day, and we would be happy to help you. Give us a call, and we’ll take care of it!
