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Don't fool with your foot

If you are a diabetic it is all about following simple dos and don'ts to prevent foot ulcers

Diabetic neuropathy afflicts around 15 per cent of all diabetics. This nerve disorder makes foot ulcers more likely, especially with inappropriate activity. Foot ulcers are a leading cause of amputation in diabetics. They are caused by loss of pain, sensitivity, abnormal foot shape, tight shoes, sharp objects, heat and so on.

Exercise is an important part of diabetes management and prevention of foot ulcers. Exercise increases blood flow to affected areas. It slows the rate of diabetic nerve damage by reviving motor nerve function and preserving unaffected motor nerves. Exercise maintains fitness through improved muscle strength, flexibility, tone, and balance. Exercising muscles take up glucose without requiring insulin and lower insulin requirement and improve blood sugar control - the decisive factor in preventing the complications of diabetes. Walking is a great exercise for diabetics, but because it involves weight bearing it requires the right footwear and the right walking surface. Diabetics will benefit from exercises that do not stress the feet and weight-bearing joints. These exercises include swimming, bicycling, and upper-body exercises, including chair and arm exercises. Using the treadmill, prolonged walking, jogging and step exercises are not for patients with active foot ulcers. Diabetics with open ulcers should avoid swimming, for obvious reasons.

Footwear is essential for diabetics. A hot tar road, a pebble-strewn field and even the floor at home pose challenges for their vulnerable feet. Diabetics should wear soft thick-soled shoes. A visit to the orthopaedic surgeon will help identify the pressure points in the foot that are liable to break into ulcers. Wear clean, dry socks at the start of each new workout and remove sweaty socks promptly at the end of each workout. Sweaty socks can increase the risk of Athlete's Foot. Dry your feet after each workout.

Diabetics should wear exercise-specific shoes. Soccer, tennis, basketball, jogging and even walking all have specific shoes. Be prepared to shell out more for good quality shoes. It is cheaper than an amputation in the long run. Break into new shoes gradually and discard old shoes quickly. Tight shoes prevent continuous blood supply to the feet and can cause ulcers. Check feet daily for minor bruises, cuts, calluses and uneven temperatures in different parts of the foot, which may be the fist signs of tissue breakdown.

RAJIV. M

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