A Podiatrist In Rockville, MD Provides Advice On Proper Foot Care For Diabetics And Older People
As people grow older, their health begins to decline – many physical issues surface and they become really complicated when they are not treated immediately or if a recommended lifestyle change is not implemented.
One of the health issues that people of advanced age typically suffer from is diabetes, and if older people are diagnosed with this illness, they are advised by doctors to follow a strict diet and to take really good care of themselves because there are numerous complications that can spawn from this condition.
Many older people with diabetes are plagued with foot problems because compared to other body parts, the feet deal with a lot of pressure.
This is especially true if a person’s still quite mobile. And because of this, diabetics and the elderly need to make sure that they wear the right shoes, rest their feet well, and treat any type of skin lesion as quickly as possible because their condition can prevent proper healing. Consultation and checkup with a podiatrist are advised to effectively address this problem.
Diabetics Are At High Risk
According to a podiatrist in Rockville, MD, diabetics are always at high risk of developing serious foot problems because the condition leads to reduced blood flow to the feet which then prevents small wounds from healing properly; blisters, cuts, and scratches are considered dangerous for diabetics because not only do they heal really slowly, but they get infected easily as well.
Also, sometimes the top layer of the skin closes up but infection breeds under it and spreads inside the body; this usually leads to damaged nerves that either result in consistent pains, or the opposite which is inability to feel minor trauma.
Prevention Is Key
Prevention is always better than cure, especially in the case of diabetics and elderly people who do not get cured of certain health issues easily, so for those who want to take better care of their feet to prevent further complications and discomfort, here are important pieces of advice provided by a trusted podiatrist.
Things To Do:
- Invest in comfortable and really soft shoes like those lined with fleece or other soft materials that caress the skin. These shoes provide ample cushioning to minimize pressure on all sides of the feet and they do not cause blisters.
- Check with a podiatrist regularly to determine what other lifestyle changes have to be followed in maintaining foot health and whether certain treatments (such as surgery and laser therapy) are necessary to treat pains and other foot discomforts.
- Inspect feet daily for bruises, blisters, cuts or any type of injury or skin infection – catching them early can prevent them from worsening.
- Aid blood circulation by keeping feet elevated after long periods of standing up or walking around.
- Do not treat corns, calluses and bunions without going to the podiatrist first and learning the best ways of managing these foot problems.