Foot problems are typical diabetes symptoms. Blood sugar levels can be very high in people with diabetes. This makes wound healing more difficult by causing nerve injury and insufficient blood supply, which can then lead to severe foot issues, including the necessity for amputation in some circumstances. Therefore they must follow proper foot care for diabetics.
What are Epsom Salts?
Epsom salt is a mineral salt that materializes naturally and is made of magnesium and sulfate. It is available in most grocery stores, pharmacies, health food stores, and online. It is usually added to a bathtub but can also be poured into a small tub of warm water to soak feet. Although no clinical experiments have been conducted to confirm the advantages of Epsom salt, it supposedly provides pain relief from muscle stiffness, aches and pains, headaches, exhaustion, and stress. Epsom salt has traditionally been odorless, but it is now available scented with various essential oils and other fragrances. Despite having good results when used, it is not a recommended foot care for diabetics.
Foot Complications and Diabetes
- Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetes patients frequently experience foot difficulties. They can develop over time due to excessive blood sugar damaging the nerves and blood vessels in the feet. Diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage can cause tingling, numbness, pain, or lack of feeling in your feet.
- Blisters
You may also notice a cut, ulcer, or blisters on your foot, but because of diabetic neuropathy, you won’t be able to sense the pain. Such wounds could become infected. The damaged blood vessels might cause inadequate blood flow in your foot, leading to the infection not healing properly.
- Gangrene
Gangrene can develop as a result of an infection and insufficient blood flow. This causes muscle, skin, and other tissues to deteriorate. The worst case for gangrene, if not treated, is foot amputation. Foot Amputation is a surgical procedure that involves removing a damaged toe, foot, or portion of your leg. To avoid such extreme procedures, it is important to take proper foot care for diabetics.
Epsom Salts and Diabetes
Epsom salts are often not suggested for people with diabetes. The main reason for this is that such soaks might cause dry feet. When the skin is dry, it is more prone to cracking and chafing, which can lead to skin infections, sores, and ulceration if not treated appropriately. In addition, people with diabetic neuropathy are likely to lose their sweat reflex, causing their feet to become even drier. As a result, proper skin care lotion is required to keep the skin moist. There are times when due to diabetic neuropathy, you cannot feel the sores, cuts, or blisters you have on the feet, but Epsom salts cause these injuries to open up, leading to infections. When you have diabetes, it is essential to keep your feet clean, and you should watch them on a regular basis, taking care to fully dry them, especially between toes that have leftover moisture that can promote bacterial infections. For people with diabetes, it is crucial to take proper care of their feet, so it is recommended that they use adequate foot care for diabetics.
9 Major Tips: Foot Care for Diabetics
1. Check your feet regularly.
Due to diabetic neuropathy, a lot of times, Diabetics cannot feel if they have ulcers, cuts, or any injury in their legs. Since diabetics are at risk of getting infected easily, it is important that they use the proper foot care for diabetics, it is treated. Check for cracks, corns, sores, blisters, scrapers, and unusual blemishes.
2. Wash not soak.
Wash your feet regularly and properly, especially between the toes. Do not soak, as soaking increases the risk of cracks and skin infections. Over-soaking can lead to dryness. Use lukewarm water, and there are mild soaps that are available in foot care for diabetics products. Try not to use fragrance and chemical foot care products as they can cause skin irritation.
3. Dry them out.
After you are done washing your feet properly, it is important to dry your feet properly. Please pay more attention between the toes as it often stores extra moisture. Extra moisture makes the area between the toes a fungal breeding ground. Taking proper measures to avoid fungal infections as they progress quickly is important.
4. Scrub the callus
Diabetics should never pop blisters or pick at sores. Picking at calluses or cutting corns should be avoided. Using chemical corn removers should also not be used, as it could cause reactions and also burn. Pumice stones or emery boards can be used to smooth off the rough spots. If your calluses build up and harden, they can break skin into cracks, making it prone to infections and very painful.
5. Take extra care of your Toenails.
It would be best to look out if your toenail is cracking or turning yellow as it is a sign of foot infections or foot problems. There are also instances of toenail ingrown if a person has diabetes. If your toenails are becoming thick, crumbly, brittle, and even unpleasant smelly, you might suffer from a fungal infection. You need to take additional care of your toenails and trim them properly. This will prevent your toes from poking your skin.
6. Moisturize
One of the symptoms faced by diabetics is skin dryness as well as cracking and calluses, particularly in the heels, where dead skin cells tend to accumulate. Because the skin on foot is thicker than the skin on the rest of the body, using proper foot care for diabetics products like foot heal cream is required to soften and mend cracked heels and extremely dry, hard spots. But make sure you avoid the skin between the toes as it already accumulates moisture.
7. Keep them covered.
Always wear the correct shoes and socks to protect your feet from heat, cold, and damage. Remove pebbles as soon as possible, no matter how much you wish to tough it out. Always try on new shoes right at the end of the day when your feet are at their widest. Wear your new shoes for a couple of hours every day to gradually break them in. Blisters can develop into major wounds. Always wear shoes and socks that fit correctly. Overly tight shoes may cause pressure points on the feet and lead to other issues. It is important that you wear socks with shoes all the time.
8. Keep your feet up.
Keeping your foot promotes better blood circulation, which is very much recommended for diabetics who suffer from diabetic neuropathy. Usually, nerve damage is caused due to insufficient blood flow to the blood vessels on your foot. Keep your foot elevated for 30 minutes every day. Along with foot care with diabetes, you must do proper exercises for your foot and go on a walk regularly.
9. Avoid heating your feet.
Nerve damage in a diabetic can make your foot insensitive to pain, so even if you burn your foot, you would not know. However, it would help if you protect your feet from extreme temperatures. You should always wear shoes, and if you want to wear sandals, ensure you apply proper sunscreen to protect your feet from heat.
Why is Vedelan the best foot care for Diabetics?
Vedelan is known for its diabetic care products. Vedelan has a special Foot Heal Cream that can be an essential product to add to your foot care regimen. Vedelan Foot Care Heal Cream includes various ingredients and is completely natural. Managing diabetic skin problems is always difficult, but Vedelan’s skin care products for people with diabetes are an excellent solution.
Epsom salt baths are an easy and healthy way to improve your health. With regular use, you can help improve circulation and increase relaxation, which can help with symptoms of diabetes.
Check out the Vedelan website to find the best skin care products for your skin.
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