Foot Care is Vital for Good Health


by Dave Simpson - Date: 2008-10-31 - Word Count: 332 Share This!

For many, the first step toward better health starts with better foot care.

This is especially true for the 20.8 million Americans who have diabetes, of which 6.2 million have yet to be diagnosed.

Keeping feet healthy is an essential part of diabetes self-care. Since diabetes affects the nerves and blood vessels in the feet, a daily care regimen can help prevent such serious medical problems as neuropathy, poor circulation and other complications that can lead to amputation.

There are several good quality guides available both online and in bookstores that outline the problems and offer solutions to comrehensive foot care. they outline the importance of daily care, while recognizing the changes that can lead to serious problems.

If you are looking for a guide to foot care, then you should get one that covers common foot problems, preventative measures, weight and foot problems, changes due to aging, washing the feet, preventing athlete's foot, toenail care, wearing the proper shoes and socks, treating minor foot problems, exercising and identifying major problems.

A good guide should be a vital resource for people with diabetes to help save many needless amputations. Especially since the two- to five-year mortality rate is so high following amputation, it is important to save as many lives as possible.

Here are a few tips to help you start caring for your feet:






Work with your health care team to keep your blood glucose in your target range.


Check your feet every day. Look at your bare feet for red spots, cuts, swelling and blisters.


Be more active. Plan your physical activity program with your health team.


Wash your feet every day. Dry them carefully, especially between the toes.


Keep your skin soft and smooth. Rub skin lotion on your feet, but not between toes.


Trim your toenails straight across and file the edges with an emery board or nail file.


Wear shoes and socks at all times. Never walk barefoot.


wear custom foot orthotics for comfort and relief of pain




Related Tags: diabetes, foot care, orthotics


One of the most effective palliative care techniques if the use of foot orthotics. For most people these do not need to be expensive, custom made devices. In many cases, cheap over the counter devices can provide relief from sore feet and help prevent the dangerous side effects of diabetes. To see a range of such orthotics, visit this website where you will find a wide range for all budgets and conditions.

Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles

© The article above is copyrighted by it's author. You're allowed to distribute this work according to the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs license.
 

Recent articles in this category:



Most viewed articles in this category: