Type 2 diabetes is on the rise on our society. We are consuming larger amounts of sugars than ever before because they are in many different types of foods. The fact that many of us work sedentary jobs where we don’t exercise is also the cause of obesity-related health disorders. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, if you don’t manage it properly, it can cause a wide range of devastating health problems and can even lead to death.
Diabetes and Your Feet and Ankles
It is very common for podiatrists and other health professionals to treat diabetic foot and ankle infections but why does this health condition happen?
Apart from the fact that diabetes causes poor blood circulation in our extremities, it also commonly causes something called diabetic peripheral neuropathy. In simple terms, this is damage to the nerves in the hands, feet, ankles, and other extremities. Diabetic foot and ankle infections occur because a person with diabetes may not have noticed a small wound at one of these sites.
The fact that the peripheral neuropathy damages the nerves means that the person cannot feel these small cuts and other wounds. If left untreated, these open sores may become infected. It is not at all uncommon for a diabetic to have to have feet, hands, toes, or even fingers amputated because he or she had left a sore untreated and it became infected to the point that it caused too much damage to the area to save it through medical intervention.
Tips on Caring for Your Feet
Given the devastating health consequences that can occur, it is important to minimize the risks by doing the following:
* Cleaning: It is important to gently bathe your feet and ankles in lukewarm water so as not to cause injury. This is especially important in the elderly in whom weakened and thin skin can easily tear open.
* Exams: If you have diabetes, it is vital to have yourself checked and examined regularly by a qualified podiatrist. If there is a problem, a podiatrist can draw up an appropriate treatment plan for diabetic foot and ankle infections in Racine, WI.
If you are diabetic and you have any questions on foot and ankle care, it is well worth making an appointment with your local podiatrist to discuss the issue and possible treatment plans.