Diabetes and Your Feet

    Diabetics have to take special care of their feet, or they can become more susceptible to problems in two ways: reduced blood circulation and nerve damage.

Here’s what to look for and some prevention ideas.

If your feet are constantly cold, your legs are sore when you walk, or your feet hurt in bed at night, you may be suffering from poor blood circulation. This, in turn, can slow down the process of healing when you have cuts or other damage to your feet.

Staying physically active is one way to help improve your circulation. You also need to control your blood fat and sugar levels, as well as your blood pressure. Massage is an effective tool to incorporate in your daily foot check routine to ensure increased circulation, manage blood glucose levels and blood pressure.

And of course, don’t smoke. My mother was a smoker and it causes so many complication with many medications and most importantly her circulation. I picked up smoking from my mother’s bad habit at a young age and am very happy to say I have not been a smoker in over 8 years. I am proof quitting cold turkey works when you are committed to it. I knew in my heart I would NOT allow smoking to kill me slowly anymore.

If your feet are numb, you have a burning sensation on the soles of your feet or pins and needles in your feet, you have signs of possible nerve damage.

Foot nerves are the longest in our bodies and are therefore susceptible to damage by diabetes. If these nerves are damaged, the feelings are lessened, so we could have the cuts or blisters that can lead to ulcers, and we wouldn’t even know about it.

Check your feet regularly to be sure there are no signs of injury. If you develop corns or calluses, have them treated immediately by a podiatrist. Wash and dry carefully between your toes, and keep your nails trimmed and smooth.

Everyone likes to have their feet pampered, but for us diabetics it not only feels good, it also prevents serious health problems in the future. So book that foot massage now!

Massage can become costly when it is not covered by insurance. As a solution, check out my FREE REPORT on the benefits of massage for diabetics.

Claim your Free Report: “The Benefits of Diabetes Massage” www.diabetesmassage.com