How Foot Injuries and Diabetes are Connected
Diabetes can lead to nerve damage in the extremities, especially the feet, as well as cause a person to have poor circulation. When you combine these two symptoms of diabetes, it can often mean that an injury or infection may occur in a diabetic’s foot more easily than it would in someone without diabetes. If you are caring for an elderly loved one, other common conditions connected to aging, such as poor eyesight to spot an issue, or an inability to be flexible enough to fully examine her feet, can mean your loved one might be at risk for infections in her feet.
Protecting Your Loved One’s Feet
A scratch, puncture, or cut can easily lead to an ulcer in the foot if not attended to properly and quickly. There are steps you can take beforehand to prevent many common foot injuries, as well as steps to take as soon as one is spotted.
If your loved one has difficulty caring for her own feet, consider having a provider who offers personal care at home as part of her regular care. Personal care at home providers can assist with many of the preventative care steps to take, and by providing this personal care at home, your loved one will have someone who routinely visits and won’t need to concern herself with getting to and from appointments.
Eight Helpful Tips for Healthier Feet
- Your loved one should wear comfortable shoes that fit properly and offer the protection her feet need. Shoes shouldn’t rub against any part of her foot painfully, and when possible, should cover most of her foot to prevent injuries. Socks should also fit well and not slide down or ball up when worn.
- Your loved one should also consider keeping her shoes on for most of the day, even when indoors. Again, they can continue to support her and protect her feet as she moves around the home or out in the yard.
- Feet should be washed regularly, being careful between the toes while making sure to get rid of any dirt or sweat that has gathered on the feet.
- Your loved one’s feet should be examined regularly, even if she doesn’t feel anything wrong. Because of the possible inability to feel foot injuries well, a visual inspection should occur to look for anything that looks suspicious. Your loved one can use a mirror to see all angles or ask her personal care at home aid to provide this service on her visits.
- Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Keeping the skin of the feet well moisturized can prevent cracks from forming or skin peeling off. Look for moisturizers that are specifically made for the feet to provide the best protection.
- Trim nails properly. Toenails that aren’t trimmed can easily crack and break, and toenails that are trimmed improperly may lead to ingrown toenails, which can easily become infected. The nails should be cut straight across, and cutting into the corners of the nails should be avoided.
- Avoid extreme temperatures. Very hot baths or ice cold soaks can both damage the skin of the feet, putting them more at risk for infection.
- Finally, if anything does look amiss, your loved one should visit her doctor to have it examined before it gets worse and leads to serious consequences.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Personal Care at Home in Hempstead, NY, please contact the caring staff at Help at Home today at (631) 859-3435
Help at Home is a top provider of home care services in Islip, Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown, Brookhaven, Hempstead & Oyster Bay, and surrounding areas on Long Island & NYC. We serve Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties.
Whether you or a loved one is recuperating from an illness or a senior requiring care, we can help. Help at Home is committed to providing quality home care at affordable rates. Helping a patient remain in the comfort and security of their home is our goal. We are the best alternative to nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Help at Home caregivers
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