Did you know that if you have diabetes, it’s important to take extra care of your feet? Read our top tips below.
Taking care of your feet is particularly important if you have diabetes. This is because diabetes can:1
Damage nerves to the foot (neuropathy)
Reduce blood circulation to the feet (peripheral artery disease)
If you have nerve damage, you might not be able to feel your feet properly and might not notice cuts and sores. If your feet don’t have enough blood circulation, these cuts and sores may heal more slowly.1
Therefore, cuts and sores can develop into ulcers without you realising. Ulcers or other lesions on the feet pose danger for people with diabetes. It is important to avoid foot damage, especially for middle-aged and elderly people.
Nerves are responsible for communicating messages around your body, including feelings of touch and pain. If nerves in your feet get damaged, you may experience feelings of:
Pain
Burning
Numbness
Tingling
However, you can still have nerve damage without symptoms, so it’s important to pay attention to your feet.
If you have poor circulation to the feet, you may experience:
Pain or cramps in the backs of your legs when walking
Cold feet
Brittle toenails
Hair loss on your feet or legs
Pale blue coloured skin on your legs (if you have light skin)
All people with diabetes need to take special care of their feet. This includes the following:1
Wash your feet daily and dry well. Moisturise dry skin, especially cracked heels.
Keep toenails trimmed.
Wear comfortable, well-fitting and protective shoes.
Have your feet checked by a healthcare professional at least once a year.
Check your feet regularly for signs of swelling, redness or heat (this could be a sign of infection).
Check your feet before and after exercise.
Promptly report any signs or symptoms that may indicate a problem.
Eating right when you have diabetes doesn’t have to be complex – it is about knowing what is best for you and your diabetes management plan. Knowing which foods are low-GI can be a helpful way of keeping track of your diet. Read on for a breakdown of what ‘low-GI carbohydrate’ means and how this might be helpful.
While there is no cure for diabetes, many treatments are available to help control blood glucose levels. A healthy lifestyle plays a big role in managing blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of complications.3 This article will explain briefly how type 2 diabetes is managed.
When you have diabetes, you may wonder what ‘eating right’ means for you.
Here we’re busting some of the myths around food and diabetes. Keep reading to learn more.
Glucerna is Food for Special Medical Purposes. Use under medical supervision.
References: 1. Better Health Channel. Diabetes – foot care. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/diabetes-foot-care. Accessed May 2023. 2. Diabetes UK. Poor blood circulation. Available at: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/poor-blood-circulation.html. Accessed May 2023. 3. Better Health Channel. Diabetes. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/diabetes. Accessed May 2023.
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