Diabetic Socks
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November is Diabetes Awareness Month. An important part of that awareness includes how people living with diabetes handle their day-to-day lives. At Campbell County Health’s Home Medical Resources, we strive to make each day a little easier for our customers.
According to the CDC, About half of all people with diabetes have some kind of nerve damage. You can have nerve damage in any part of your body, but nerves in your feet and legs are most often affected. Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet.
Could You Have Nerve Damage?
Anyone with diabetes can develop nerve damage, but these factors increase your risk:
Blood sugar levels that are hard to manage
Having diabetes for a long time, especially if your blood sugar is often higher than your target levels
Being overweight
Being older than 40 years
Having high blood pressure
Having high cholesterol
Nerve damage, along with poor blood flow—another diabetes complication—puts you at risk for developing a foot ulcer (a sore or wound) that could get infected and not heal well. If an infection doesn’t get better with treatment, your toe, foot, or part of your leg may need to be amputated (removed by surgery) to prevent the infection from spreading and to save your life.
When you check your feet every day, you can catch problems early and get them treated right away. Early treatment greatly reduces your risk of amputation.
Protecting your feet
Tips from https://medlineplus.gov/diabeticfoot.html
Good foot care for people with diabetes includes:
Checking your feet every day. Look for cuts, redness, and other changes in the skin and toenails, including warts or other spots that your shoes could rub. Make sure to check the bottoms of your feet too.
Washing your feet every day. Use warm water and soap. Don't soak your feet because that can dry out your skin. After you dry your feet, you can use talcum powder or cornstarch between your toes. They soak up moisture that can cause infection. If you use lotion, don't apply it between your toes.
Asking your doctor how to remove corns and calluses safely. Thick skin on your feet can rub and lead to sores. But removing it the wrong way could damage your skin. So you don't want to cut the skin or use medicated pads or liquid removers.
Trimming your toenails straight across with a clipper. If it's hard for you to trim your own toenails, or if they're thick or curve into the skin, have a podiatrist (foot doctor) do it for you.
Always wearing well-fitting shoes and socks or slippers to protect your feet when walking. You don't want to walk barefoot, even indoors. And be sure your shoes are smooth inside. A seam or pebble could rub your skin raw.
Protecting your feet from heat and cold. Use sunscreen on exposed skin and don't walk barefoot at the beach. In cold weather, wear warm socks instead of warming your feet near a heater or fireplace.
Keeping the blood flowing in your feet. Put your feet up when you're sitting. Wiggle your toes and circle your feet throughout the day. Don't wear tight socks. And get plenty of activity that's not too hard on the feet, such as walking.
Getting your feet checked at your healthcare visits. Even if you haven't noticed a problem, it's good to have your healthcare provider look at your feet.
Home Medical Resources carries Jobst Sensifoot Diabetic Socks. They are knee high, compression socks that are non constricting, densely padded, non irritating, antimicrobial socks that help prevent growth of bacteria and fungi on the sock. They also have a moisture wicking acrylic fiber to help keep feet cool and dry throughout the day.
For more information, or for tips on how to care for your diabetic feet, call us at 307-688-6260. To see our large selection of medical supplies and equipment, visit us at 901 W. Second St., across from the Rockpile Museum.
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