Foot Care
| Author: Judy Kohn, RN, BSN, CDE |
| Last Updated: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 |
Q: "Would you explain foot care?"
A: When you have diabetes, you have an increased risk of foot problems for several reasons:
- Diabetes can affect the nerves in your feet, which could prevent you from feeling an injury.
- Diabetes can reduce the blood flow (circulation) to your feet, which can delay your ability to heal.
- If you develop an infection in your foot, the infection can cause your blood glucose to rise; when blood glucose is too high, your body's ability to fight infection is impaired, meaning it will take longer for you to heal.
Maintaining good blood glucose control and practicing daily foot care can help you avoid serious foot problems. Please refer to the related links below for additional information on foot care.
Related Questions
Diabetic Neuropathy
Q:
"I have been experiencing numbness in my feet and toes. I have Type 2
diabetes and am currently taking Glucophage 850mg, 2 times a day. Is this
condition reversible?"
Related Links
American Podiatric Medical Association, Inc. (APMA)
http://www.apma.org
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
http://www.diabetes.org
National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP)
http://ndep.nih.gov
Important Notice: The responses provided by the team of Diabetes Educators are based on their personal experiences and expertise as practicing diabetes healthcare professionals, and are not to be considered diabetes management advice from Abbott Laboratories. Remember that information provided by the team of Diabetes Educators is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your physician about any healthcare questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to healthcare issues.
All tradenames and trademarks not owned by Abbott Laboratories are the property of their respective owners. For details on tradenames and trademarks and their respective owners, visit the non-Abbott trademarks listing.
