If you have diabetes, it is important to monitor your health in a variety of ways, including checking your blood sugar, preparing healthy foods to eat, staying active, and managing your medications. Another major component of diabetic health is proper foot care. Taking care of your feet is very important due to diabetic neuropathy, which can increase your risk for foot injuries. For professional diabetic foot care in Kensington, Olney, Camp Springs/Clinton, Silver Spring, Laurel, and Maple Lawn, MD, consider Family Foot & Ankle Associates of Maryland.
Check Your Feet Daily
The most important thing that you should do for proper diabetic foot care is to check your feet for any cuts, blisters, or sores daily. This is important because many people with diabetes experience diabetic neuropathy, meaning that they have some level of nerve damage usually occurring in their hands or feet. Due to this nerve damage, you may not be able to feel when you have injured your feet, leading to an increased risk of injury or infection if left untreated. By visually checking your feet each day, you can avoid any unknown damage.
Wash Your Feet
In addition to visually checking your feet, you should also take care to wash your feet with warm water daily. It is best to do this in the shower, as soaking your feet or using water that is too hot may also not be good for your diabetic feet. Keeping your feet clean will help to reduce your risk of fungal or bacterial infections.
Avoid Going Barefoot
As a result of diabetic neuropathy, going barefoot can lead to an increased risk of unknown foot injury if you happen to step on something small or sharp. Try wearing socks, slippers, or other comfortable footwear both indoors and outdoors. Before putting on your shoes, you should also check for any pebbles or small objects inside that might cause skin breakage or irritation.
Wear Properly-Fitted Shoes
Wearing shoes that fit well and always wearing socks with your shoes will provide additional protection against blisters and other forms of foot injuries. For the best diabetic foot care in Kensington, Olney, Camp Springs/Clinton, Silver Spring, Laurel, and Maple Lawn, MD, you may want to have your feet professionally fitted at a podiatrist's office.
Visit Your Podiatrist
While you can do all of the above actions at home, it is still important to have regular visits to the podiatrist to have your feet professionally assessed at least once per year. If you need diabetic foot care in Kensington, Olney, Camp Springs/Clinton, Silver Spring, Laurel, and Maple Lawn, MD, call the Family Foot & Ankle Associates of Maryland today at (301) 924-5044.