Got Diabetes? See the Doctor Regularly to Avoid Foot Amputations
In the United States, about 70,000 get amputations each year.
Approximately half of these amputations are done on diabetics.
These numbers appear to be on the rise.
Even current medical advances have been unable to slow this trend.
There are some early warning signs of foot problems in diabetics.
In many cases, ulcers in the feet can be seen before amputations are necessary.
If these foot ulcers are caught early enough, many of these amputations can be avoided.
It is important to get good medical care as well as to take good care of yourself if you want to avoid foot amputations.
Getting Routine Foot Checkups Every time you go to the doctor, you should have your feet checked over.
This will help to catch foot ulcers early in the process.
Your doctor has a filament that he will press against your foot.
He will test whether or not you can feel the amount of pressure (approximately 10 grams) that is being pressed against your foot.
Your doctor is essentially testing how well the nerves in your feet are still functioning.
If they are still sensitive, your feet are probably fine.
However, if you have lost sensation in your feet, you may have an ulcer.
At the very least, you are now at a higher risk of developing an ulcer.
You may want to test your own feet regularly.
If you are unable to feel pressure against your foot, then you should get an appointment to see your doctor.
Taking Care of Your Feet Between Doctor Visits Foot ulcers generally form as a result of either continual pressure or sudden pressure of a high magnitude.
Here are 7 things you can do on a regular basis to keep your feet in good condition: 1.
Take a close look at your feet every day.
If you have flexibility issues, try to sit in front of a mirror.
2.
Always wear protection on your feet as the loss of sensation on your feet could lead you to do harm on your feet without feeling it.
3.
Wear shoes that fit well in order to avoid developing blisters that you may be unaware of.
4.
Have a few different pairs of shoes you can rotate wearing to prevent blisters.
5.
When you're breaking in new shows, be careful not to wear them for more than a couple of hours at a time.
Approximately half of these amputations are done on diabetics.
These numbers appear to be on the rise.
Even current medical advances have been unable to slow this trend.
There are some early warning signs of foot problems in diabetics.
In many cases, ulcers in the feet can be seen before amputations are necessary.
If these foot ulcers are caught early enough, many of these amputations can be avoided.
It is important to get good medical care as well as to take good care of yourself if you want to avoid foot amputations.
Getting Routine Foot Checkups Every time you go to the doctor, you should have your feet checked over.
This will help to catch foot ulcers early in the process.
Your doctor has a filament that he will press against your foot.
He will test whether or not you can feel the amount of pressure (approximately 10 grams) that is being pressed against your foot.
Your doctor is essentially testing how well the nerves in your feet are still functioning.
If they are still sensitive, your feet are probably fine.
However, if you have lost sensation in your feet, you may have an ulcer.
At the very least, you are now at a higher risk of developing an ulcer.
You may want to test your own feet regularly.
If you are unable to feel pressure against your foot, then you should get an appointment to see your doctor.
Taking Care of Your Feet Between Doctor Visits Foot ulcers generally form as a result of either continual pressure or sudden pressure of a high magnitude.
Here are 7 things you can do on a regular basis to keep your feet in good condition: 1.
Take a close look at your feet every day.
If you have flexibility issues, try to sit in front of a mirror.
2.
Always wear protection on your feet as the loss of sensation on your feet could lead you to do harm on your feet without feeling it.
3.
Wear shoes that fit well in order to avoid developing blisters that you may be unaware of.
4.
Have a few different pairs of shoes you can rotate wearing to prevent blisters.
5.
When you're breaking in new shows, be careful not to wear them for more than a couple of hours at a time.
Source...