HAPPY FEET!

Good Day my diabetic friends!
Even if your feet are not quite this pretty, you don't want to harm or even loose them by not taking care of them.
I am not posting any images of diabetic  feet, because we ant to stay positive and not scare anybody. Diabetic feet ARE scary though: ulcers, blue spots, open, infected wounds. JUST DO NOT GO THERE! and below are some tips to keep your feet your pride and joy:

WHAT DIABETES CAN DO TO YOUR FEET

Caring for Your Feet With Diabetes

When you have diabetes, taking good care of your feet is very important. Poor foot care can lead to serious problems, including possibly having to remove -- or amputate -- the foot or leg.

As a person with diabetes, you are more vulnerable to foot problems, because the disease can damage your nerves and reduce blood flow to your feet. The American Diabetes Association has estimated that one in five people with diabetes who seek hospital care do so for foot problems. By taking proper care of your feet, most serious problems can be prevented. It's important that your doctor check your feet at least once a year for any problems.

Here are some diabetes foot care tips to follow.

Wash and Dry Your Feet Daily

• Use mild soaps.
• Use warm water.
• Pat your skin dry; do not rub. Thoroughly dry your feet, especially between the toes.
• After washing, use lotion on your feet to prevent cracking. Do not put lotion between your toes.

Examine Your Feet Each Day

• Check the tops and bottoms of your feet. Have someone else look at your feet if you cannot see them.
• Check for dry, cracked skin.
• Look for blisters, cuts, scratches, or other sores.
• Check for redness, increased warmth, or tenderness when touching any area of your feet.
• Check for ingrown toenails, corns, and calluses.
• If you get a blister or sore from your shoes, do not "pop" it. Apply a bandage and wear a different pair of shoes.

Take Care of Your Toenails

• Cut toenails after bathing, when they are soft.
• Cut toenails straight across and smooth with an emery board.
• Avoid cutting into the corners of toes.
• You may want a podiatrist (foot doctor) to cut your toenails.

Be Careful When Exercising

• Walk and exercise in comfortable shoes.
• Do not exercise when you have open sores on your feet.

Protect Your Feet With Shoes and Socks

Footwear Test

Use this simple test to see if your shoes fit correctly:

• Stand on a piece of paper. (Make sure you are standing and not sitting, because your foot changes shape when you stand.)
• Trace the outline of your foot.
• Trace the outline of your shoe.
• Compare the tracings: Is the shoe too narrow? Is your foot crammed into the shoe? The shoe should be at least 1/2 inch longer than your longest toe and as wide as your foot.

GO WELL ON HAPPY FEET WILL TAKE ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING

Best regards from from pre-autumnal South Africa,

Barbara

Info partly compliments to WebMD

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