All articles tagged with #foot care
Proper foot care is crucial for diabetics to prevent serious complications like ulcers and amputations. Key practices include daily inspection, gentle hygiene, moisturizing, wearing custom-made footwear or insoles, and avoiding high-impact activities. Recognizing early warning signs and seeking prompt medical attention can significantly improve outcomes and quality of life.
The article offers various health tips including eating most calories before 7 p.m. to align with circadian rhythms, caring for your feet with toe spacers and rolling balls, avoiding frequent fries to reduce diabetes risk, using HEPA filters for better indoor air quality, and making small dietary changes like adding fatty fish and spices, while also advising moderation in screen time and ultraprocessed foods for overall health improvement.
A group of podiatrists in Canada and Britain argue that flat feet should be considered a healthy anatomical variant rather than a deformity. They emphasize that the focus should be on addressing pain and treating any related problems, rather than worrying about the appearance of the feet or arches. Research suggests that there is little evidence to support the use of supportive shoes, orthotic inserts, or surgery for flat feet. Instead, experts recommend a more active approach to foot care, including strengthening the intrinsic foot muscles and finding a well-fitting, comfortable shoe. The message is to prioritize pain management and function rather than the appearance of the foot.
Diabetic foot problems, such as foot ulcers and neuropathy, are common complications of diabetes mellitus. These issues can arise due to nerve damage and poor blood flow, leading to open sores, infections, and changes in foot structure. Early symptoms include numbness, tingling, pain, dry skin, and changes in foot shape. Proper foot care, including wearing appropriate shoes, regular monitoring, and maintaining blood sugar levels, can help prevent complications. Treatment options range from wound dressings and antibiotics to surgery, depending on the severity of the condition. Regular foot checks and ongoing maintenance are crucial for healing and maintaining foot health in individuals with diabetes.
Diabetes can lead to poor blood circulation and nerve damage, making individuals more susceptible to foot problems. A diabetes expert advises against getting pedicures at beauty salons due to the risk of infection and recommends visiting a podiatrist or orthotist instead. Similarly, lower limb massages at spas and wellness centers should be avoided, and professional advice should be sought. Recognizing signs of poor blood circulation, such as pain while walking, brittle nails, and tingling or numbness in the feet, is crucial for early intervention and prevention of severe complications. Expert guidance and personalized treatments are essential for foot care in individuals with diabetes.
Podiatrists share the behaviors they avoid to protect their foot health, including not wearing Crocs for long periods of standing or walking, wearing high heels in moderation to avoid foot pain, not walking barefoot to prevent calluses and fat pad atrophy, avoiding running in non-running shoes to prevent pain, not going barefoot in germy spaces to avoid infections, avoiding cotton socks to prevent blisters and foot fungus, going to trusted nail salons to avoid fungal or bacterial infections, not self-treating or ignoring foot infections, retying laces for proper shoe support, and taking extra care as a diabetic by not going barefoot and inspecting feet daily.
Hays nurse practitioner Babe Breit is opening a clinic to provide in-home foot care services, including nail trimming and removal, thinning of calluses, treatment for fungal nails, and treatment of ingrown or infected nails. Breit's clinic aims to prevent foot infections through regular foot care, which is much less expensive and time-consuming than treating infections. The clinic only accepts private pay for services, and the cost is $150 per visit for new patients and $100 per visit for established patients. Breit is also licensed to offer other types of general medical care.