Diabetic foot care - 10 tips
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that develops when the pancreas can no longer produce insulin or the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that moves sugar (glucose) from food into cells to produce energy. High blood sugar levels, also called hyperglycemia, can cause damage to organs and tissues.
It is important to regularly monitor blood sugar levels when treating diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes need daily insulin injections, while people with type 2 diabetes may need oral medications or insulin. A healthy diet with balanced meals, regular physical activity and weight control are crucial to diabetes management.
Foot care for diabetics
Proper foot care is particularly important for people with diabetes to avoid complications. In this guide you will find 10 helpful tips to keep your feet healthy.
Tip 1: Self-control is crucial
A daily thorough foot inspection is part of the routine. Pay attention to changes such as nail changes, redness or skin problems and consult a doctor if you notice any abnormalities.
Tip 2: Check your sensitivity
Have your sensitivity to vibration and touch checked regularly.
Tip 3: Enjoy a daily foot bath
Pamper your feet with a daily foot soak, but no longer than three minutes. Make sure the water temperature is comfortable and dry your feet thoroughly.
Tip 4: Gently remove calluses
Use the time after the foot bath to gently remove excess calluses with a pumice stone.
Tip 5: Take care of your skin properly
Taking care of your dry and chapped skin after bathing and before going to bed deserves special attention. Use special products for this.
Tip 6: Avoid using sharp tools
To avoid injuries, you should avoid scissors, nail clippers and nail files. It is better to file your nails with a sandpaper file or a rounded diamond file.
Tip 7: Avoid going barefoot
Even in their own four walls, diabetics should avoid walking barefoot to prevent injuries.
Tip 8: Pay attention to heat sources
Be careful with hot water bottles or heating pads that are too hot as your sensitivity may be disturbed.
Tip 9: Treat your feet to relaxation
Pamper your feet with gentle massages and regular foot exercises to improve blood circulation and prevent improper strain.
Tip 10: Choose the right footwear
When buying shoes, look for soft upper leather, sufficient width in the instep area and good cushioning. Avoid high heels and make sure they fit well.
With these 10 tips you can actively support your foot health as a diabetic. Pay regular attention to changes, take good care of your feet and choose the right footwear. Your feet will thank you!
Our smart Eon osentec insoles also support you in controlling your feet. With a very flexible sensor network, we measure temperature differences and can thus provide information on possible inflammations. Our app notifies you so you can focus on your mobility and foot care.
What is the purpose of measuring the temperature of the feet?
Elevated temperature values can indicate possible incipient inflammation, which can lead to complications in patients with diabetic foot syndrome, for example. In addition to daily foot checks, several studies have shown the positive effects of regular plantar temperature measurements.
The studies mentioned below were not carried out with intelligent shoe inserts.
The first indications of this came as early as 1975 in a study by Bergtholdt and Brand .
The International Working Group on Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) led by Prof. Dr. Bus has already included regular foot temperature checks as a recommendation in its guidelines .
Further studies indicate that over 70% (sometimes even over 90%) of foot complications were detected early through temperature measurements.
How can the intelligent shoe inserts from osentec support?
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The intelligent shoe inserts from osentec use tiny sensors to measure the temperature of the soles of the feet and detect differences from as little as 0.1°C. The associated app compares the recorded values with each other and sends a message as soon as the temperature differences last longer than 48 hours. In this way, we support the initiation of measures at an early stage and thus a preventive reaction to possible ulcers and wounds.
We would be happy to advise you on the advantages of an accompanying measure using our intelligent shoe inserts. Visit our osentec website for more information on how the insoles work and how they can contribute to well-being. you can reach us at info@osentec.de and by telephone on 0395 3511 6213.