Take care of your feet if you have diabetes

We all know the complications that occur over time with diabetes. Though common, some people do not know that diabetes also damages the nerves and blood vessels in feet, leading to your feet feeling no sensation. You may therefore not feel any pain, heat, or cold in your legs and feet thereby causing numbness. In such condition, injury of the feet takes time to heal. According to The American Diabetes Association, 1 in five people with diabetes who seek hospital care do so for foot problems.

If not taken care of, diabetic foot may also lead to amputation of a foot or leg. It is therefore recommended to check your feet every day. Inspect all the areas like the top, sides, soles, heels, and between your toes.

Watch for dry & cracked skin; bruises or cuts; skin redness, warm or tender skin; blisters or sores; hard spots; ingrown toenails, corns & calluses; tingling or burning feeling and pain.

Visit your diabetologist if you see any of the above signs. Do not try to treat these problems yourself.

TIPS FOR FOOT CARE 

• You should wash your feet with lukewarm water and mild soap everyday
• Dry the feet gently. Don’t forget to dry the area between the toes
• Use lotion, cream or petroleum jelly on dry skin. Don’t apply it between your toes
• Trim your toenails. Soften them by soaking your feet in lukewarm water before trimming
• Cut the nails straight across, as curved nails are more likely to become ingrown
• Ask your doctor to trim your toenails if you are unable to
• Do not use a heating pad or hot water bottle on your feet.

It is recommended that diabetics should never go barefoot. It is suggested to always protect your feet by wearing shoes or hard-soled slippers or footwear. Use slippers even at home.

Follow the below tips to find right footwear for you. 

• High heels and pointed toes are a complete no
• Do not use shoes that expose your toes or heels
• New footwear should be tried with socks you usually wear
• Do not wear new shoes for more than an hour at a time
• Do not wear used socks and avoid tight socks
• Wear cotton, wool, or a cotton-wool blend socks
• Make sure there are no foreign objects or rough areas inside the shoes
• Make sure your shoes fit properly. If you have nerve damage, you may not notice that your shoes are too tight.

Finally, diabetics need natural and safe treatment. Homeopathic medicines for diabetes focus on maintaining ‘normal’ levels of insulin, and keeping conventional medicines at the minimum possible dosage. They also help in better absorption of insulin and prevent the progression or complications of diabetes.

Some of the homeopathic remedies for diabetes are:

• Syzygium Jambolanum, which acts efficiently and promptly in lowering sugar levels.

• Phosphoric acid is suggested if you feel exhausted or weak all the time, either physically or mentally.

• Abroma Augusta is recommended homeopathic medicines for diabetes for patients who are losing muscle mass and suffer from extreme weakness due to imbalanced sugar levels.

• Insulinum is a solution of an active compound from the pancreas that can affect the metabolism of glucose and is used to treat diabetes in homeopathy. It helps restore your ability to store glycogen in liver and oxidize carbohydrates.

(Please remember homeopathic medicines should be taken only after consultation with an expert homeopath. Self-medication can be harmful).

Homeopathy treatment also complements conventional medicine, bringing about better and long-lasting results. A combination therapy has shown 50 per cent extra improvement in the control of diabetes. A study conducted at Athens indicates that the combination therapy showed 97 per cent improvement in patients with diabetes compared to 47 per cent improvement in patients taking only conventional treatment.