What is diabetes foot? complications and care!

What is Diabetes Foot?
The foot is especially affected by diabetes because:
-diabetes damages the nerves (damage can occur to the foot and not be detected) - this is called peripheral neuropathy.
-diabetes also affect the circulation. Poor circulation can affect the ability of the body to heal when damage occurs.
-those with diabetes are more prone to infection - the body's processes that normally fight infection respond slower and often have trouble getting to infections due to the poor circulation.
diabetes can also affect the joints, making them stiffer
-other diabetes complications that can also affect the foot, for example,

-kidney disease (affects proteins that are involved in wound healing) and eye disease (can't see the foot to check for damage).

Complications of Diabetes Foot
-the foot may get damaged and you do not know about (for example, your shoe rubs a sore onto a toe that gets infected - you can not feel it because of the peripheral neuropathy - you can not heal very well due to the infection and poor circulation ).
-foot ulcer are common
-infections can spread
-the ultimate of this process is an amputation. Diabetes is the main cause of amputations.
-Charcot's joints is another complication of diabetes in the foot, especially if peripheral neuropathy is present - the neuropathy cause a numbness (imagine spraining your ankle and not knowing you have done this. You will continue to walk on it - imagine the damage that this would do. This is what happens in a Charcot foot )

Diabetec Foot Care
Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet—even a small cut could have serious consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet. Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection. Because of these problems, you might not notice a pebble in your shoe—so you could develop a blister, then a sore, then a stubborn infection that might cause amputation of your foot or leg.

To avoid serious foot problems that could result in losing a toe, foot, or leg, be sure to follow these guidelines.
Inspect your feet daily. Check for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, or nail problems. Use a magnifying hand mirror to look at the bottom of your feet. Call your doctor if you notice anything. (If your eyesight is poor, have someone else do it for you.)
Wash your feet in lukewarm (not hot!) water. Keep your feet clean by washing them daily. But only use lukewarm water—the temperature you'd use on a newborn baby.
Be gentle when bathing your feet. Wash them using a soft washcloth or sponge. Dry by blotting or patting—and make sure to carefully dry between the toes.
Moisturize your feet—but not between your toes. Use a moisturizer daily to keep dry skin from itching or cracking. But DON'T moisturize between the toes—this could encourage a fungal infection.
Cut nails carefully—and straight across. Also, file the edges. Don't cut them too short, since this could lead to ingrown toenails.
Never trim corns or calluses . No "bathroom surgery"—let your doctor do the job.
Wear clean, dry socks. Change them daily.
Avoid the wrong type of socks. Avoid tight elastic bands (they reduce circulation). Don't wear thick or bulky socks (they can fit poorly and irritate the skin).
Wear socks to bed. If your feet get cold at night, wear socks. NEVER use a heating pad or hot water bottle.
Shake out your shoes and inspect the inside before wearing. Remember, you may not feel a pebble—so always shake out your shoes before putting them on.
Keep your feet warm and dry. Don't get your feet wet in snow or rain. Wear warm socks and shoes in winter.
Never walk barefoot. Not even at home! You could step on something and get a scratch or cut.
Take care of your diabetes. Keep your blood sugar levels under control.
Don't smoke. Smoking restricts blood flow in your feet.
Get periodic foot exams. See your foot and ankle surgeon on a regular basis for an examination to help prevent the foot complications of diabetes.

Prevent diabetes naturally

Learn how to prevent diabetes naturally without all of the side effects of drugs.The search for information relating to how to prevent diabetes naturally without drugs has become increasingly popular. As a civilization, diabetes has become much more prevalent in our society due to increased obesity. However, you don’t have to be categorized as obese to suffer from diabetes. Learning how to prevent diabetes naturally without drugs is important for decreasing the prevalence of diabetes.

Instructions:

STEP1:If you want to learn how to prevent diabetes naturally, start with your diet.

A high fiber diet and a low sugar diet can be enough for basically healthy individuals who are concerned with a family history of diabetes.

Step2: Weight loss for those who are 20 pounds or more overweight can be a significant help in considering how to prevent diabetes naturally.

Weight gain can restrict the body’s ability to process and utilize the natural insulin, which is the basic cause of diabetes. Obesity and weight gain are cited as the single greatest cause for the increase in diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Step3: Reducing the intake of specific fats is essential in the prevention of this disease. Decreasing dietary fats like saturated fats and trans fats can help ward off diabetic threats.

Step 4: Likewise, increasing the healthy fatty acids can combat the onset of diabetes the natural way. Fish oil supplements or flaxseed oil supplements can help provide the natural Omega 3 fatty acids that the body needs in order to encourage heart health and correct insulin production and use.

Step5: Daily exercise is vital. Simple daily exercise, like walking the family dog or getting a thirty minute Yoga or Tai Chi class can be highly effective in keeping diabetes at bay.

Step6: Smaller meals taken more often are part of how to prevent diabetes naturally. Overeating cause’s insulin overproduction while eating small meals throughout the day can keep insulin production at regular and healthy levels.

Step7: Keeping an eye on your cholesterol and blood pressure levels can be significant indicators as to whether diabetes in waiting in the wings. Many cases of diabetes start with a frighteningly high cholesterol or blood pressure levels. Maintaining healthy levels of both the blood pressure and the cholesterol can help prevent diabetes.

Step8: There is a lot of information regarding how to prevent diabetes naturally on the internet, but the essential ingredient in keeping this potentially deadly disease at bay is common sense eating habits and an eye toward physical exercise. Maintaining a healthier lifestyle is the key to a healthy body.

Step9: While you're here be sure to take a look around for more tips and information for preventing and treating diabetes.

Diabetes and obesity

How to avoid diabetes in obesity:

Diabetes and obesity are at an all time high in America. Many times they're connected because being over weight places you at risk for diabetes. I guess you could say diabetes is like the cousin you wish wasn't in the family at all. Diabetes is a scary disease and can make you wish you would have avoided it when you had the chance.

Instructions:

1:When a person has both diabetes and obesity they're really in trouble. However, there's a possibility of getting rid of both if they lose the weight, keep it off and change their lifestyle. The only thing that could hinder them would be if the diabetes runs in the family this could make it harder.

You can also be thin and get diabetes this usually happens because of genetics. It used to be a disease that occurred later in years, but now that our diets are so bad this isn't true anymore. So, you can be thin and young and get diabetes.

2:There are ways to avoid diabetes and obesity, so why not do what you can while you can? Why take the chance? After all, diabetes can get so bad you can lose a limb! As you can see it's not to be taken lightly, especially if it runs in the family. First of all, since diabetes and obesity are so closely related if you make these lifestyle changes it will help you to avoid both of them. It's up to you and nobody else to do what you need to do before you get diabetes, become obese or both

3:Let's start with desserts it's time to get rid of the refined sugar and replace it with fruit. While you're at it eat smaller portions and eat on smaller plates.

Prepare healthy snacks and bring take them with you everywhere you go. Plan your meals, keep a schedule and eat several small meals a day, never eat large meals or eat watching TV.

Don't skip meals, especially breakfast, hungry people overeat and eat things they shouldn't. Eat only lean meat/fish and not much of it and begin to eat a semi-vegetarian diet. Also, watch your calories and keep track of all you eat and drink. Eat 200-500 less calories a day until you reach 1500, no less than 1200.

4:As you adjust your diet it's also important to cut back on sodas, coffee, tea etc. and a little at time replace them with water. Drink plenty of water to flush toxins out of your system, at least 8 glasses a day. These are not habits that you change all at once, but one at a time.Changing your lifestyle to avoid diabetes and obesity can't be a rush job or you will overwhelm yourself and give up. Instead it's done by tackling one small goal at a time until you're where you want to be. This doesn't mean you can put it off that would be a mistake. In fact, you should begin as soon as possible.

5:While diet is a big part of what needs to be done it's not the only part. You also need to keep active and begin an exercise program. It's best to choose something you enjoy, so that you will do it regularly. This means at least 3-5 days a week for 30-60 minutes. It's terrible what diabetes and obesity will do in a person's life if they don't do something to prevent it. Preventive health care is the key and you are only one who can use it to unlock the door and live a life of good health and happiness.

Emergency Treatment In diabetes

Glucagon is a fast-acting hormone used to raise blood glucose levels quickly. It is administered by injection in cases where a person with diabetes has symptoms of hypoglycemia -- such as confusion, seizures, or unconsciousness -- that have not responded to treatment with glucose (sugar).
Reviewed last on: 9/16/2008
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.

(The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.)

Foot Care in Diabetes

Foot Care
Measures to Prevent Foot Ulcers.
Preventive foot care can significantly reduce the risk of ulcers and amputation. Some tips for preventing problems include:
-Patients should inspect their feet daily and watch for changes in color or texture, odor, and firm or hardened areas, which may indicate infection and potential ulcers.
-When washing the feet, the water should be warm (not hot) and the feet and areas between the toes should be thoroughly dried afterward. Check water temperature with the hand or a thermometer before stepping in.
-Apply moisturizers, but NOT between the toes.
-Gently use pumice to remove corns and calluses (patients should not use medicated pads or try to shave the corns or calluses themselves.)
-Trim toenials short and file the edges to avoid cutting adjacent toes.
-Well-fitting footwear is very important. People should be sure the shoe is wide enough. Patients should also avoid high heels, sandals, thongs, and going barefoot. Shoes with a rocker sole reduce pressure under the heel and front of the foot and may be particularly helpful. Custom-molded boots increase the surface area over which foot pressure is distributed. This reduces stress on the ulcers and allows them to heal.
-Changes shoes often during the day.
-Wear socks, particularly with extra padding (which can be specially purchased).
-Patients should avoid tight stockings or any clothing that constricts the legs and feet.
-Consult a specialist in foot care for any problems.