Type 2 diabetes

Once diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it is wise to stop taking your feet for granted. Previously you knew your feet would always recover with a bit of rest. However with diabetes, changes to your feet may put them at permanent risk, especially for ulceration.

Foot ulcers are a common complication of Type 2 diabetes. The US National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that 1 in 6 Type 2 diabetics will eventually develop foot ulcers, and about 1 in 100 will eventually have to have an amputation.
Early warning signs of future development of foot ulceration include:

• bunions
• claw toes, hammer toes, and mallet toes
• feet that easily get cold
• gradual widening and flattening of your feet due to aging

Spots of brown pigmentation on the lower legs that look like large, rusty freckles are also an indication of poor circulation to your feet. A foot ulcer occurs when your skin breaks and poor blood supply to your feet does not bring enough white blood cells that fight infection. Even a tiny, invisible nick in your skin can become a portal to infection. That's why it is important for all Type 2 diabetics to keep the skin of their feet well moisturized, (not moist, but moisturized with skin creams), at all time. Emu oil is often recommended for this purpose, but shea butter and plant oils with aloe actually are superior. Just don't use a scented skin cream on diabetic feet, since perfumes, fragrances, and essential oils dry out your skin in ways that can form cracks and crevices that become infected.

Always check the fitting of your shoes very carefully. Ill fitting shoes can damage your feet... look for these qualities in any shoes you buy:

• firm heels that support your foot
• plenty of room for your toes
• removable insoles to give your feet extra room if they swell
• rocker soles, designed to ease pressure on the ball of your foot

One useful piece of advice is to "wear in" new shoes for short periods of time and check your feet afterwards to see if the shoe has rubbed or pinched your feet.Equally important to preventing diabetic foot ulcers is daily inspection of your feet. Noticing any changes, especially on the tips of your toes, can help you get timely medical attention. If you can't inspect your own feet, ask your wife, husband or partner to do this for you.
Treating foot ulcers: If you do develop a foot ulcer, don't waste time in starting treatment... see a podiatrist and have him examine your feet to assess the depth of the ulcer. You may require an X-ray of your feet to rule out any bone involvement. A swab may also be taken to help identify the bacterium present and the anti-biotic required.
As well as caring for your feet, to minimize the risk of foot problems, good control of both your blood sugar levels and blood pressure will help keep these risks under control.

Would you like more information about alternative ways to handle your type 2 diabetes?
To download your free copy of my E-Book, click here now: Answers to Your Questions its based on questions many diabetics have asked me over recent months.