Diabetic Foot Care
Alternate Names : Foot Care for Diabetics
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Description
People with diabetes are prone to foot problems because complications of the disease can damage their blood vessels and nerves. This, in turn, may make you less able to sense injury or pressure on the foot. A foot injury may go unnoticed until severe infection develops.
Diabetes also alters the immune system, thus decreasing the body's ability to fight infection. Small infections can rapidly progress to death of the skin and other tissues (necrosis), which may require amputation of the affected limb to save the patient's life. Foot problems can be prevented in part with improved blood sugar control.
If you have diabetes, you are at higher risk for developing foot problems if you:
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have had diabetes more than 10 years
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are male
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have poor glucose control
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have eye, kidney, or heart complications
All diabetics should get regular foot exams -- at least twice yearly -- by their health care provider and should learn whether they have nerve damage.
To prevent injury to the feet when you have diabetes, you should adopt a DAILY routine of checking and caring for your feet, especially if you already have known nerve or blood vessel damage or current foot problems. Follow the instructions below.
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