In Bulgaria, over 300 000 people suffer from diabetes a big percentage of which experience problems with their legs. Taking care of the legs on a permanent basis can help avoid potential problems that could lead to amputation.
Neuropathy, the loss of sensation and poor eyesight pose a significant challenge in the way of proper care.
Your ability to walk and the quality of Your life depend on regular checks, wearing the right shoes and some specific actions You must take or not take, as well as on the continuous close contact with Your doctor and Prosthetic technician.
Follow a daily care regime for the legs.
If You have lost a lower limb because of diabetes or vascular problems, You could significantly decrease the chances of amputation of the healthy leg/foot by following a preventative care programme for diabetics.
It includes daily examination of the leg for any signs of bruising or redness and immediate medical examination when a problem is identified.
Your family, doctor and Prosthetic technician must work along with You in order to prevent complications linked to pain, infection or additional amputation.
The main care measures include washing the leg every day and full drying, mostly between the toes. A nurse or a leg care specialist needs to take care of the toe nails.
Never cut or use products sold without prescription for blisters or scar tissue. Consult a specialist instead.
Always protect Your feet by wearing socks and shoes at all times. Never walk bare foot. Keep Your shoes next to Your bed and get used to putting them on when You get up.
It is also important to protect Your legs from heat and cold. Always wear shoes on the beach or on hot road surfaces.
Never put Your legs in hot water.
Test the water before sinking Your feet/legs just like when You wash a baby.
Do not use hot-water bottles, electric blankets or pads- You could burn the skin of Your feet without even realising it.
Facilitate blood circulation towards Your feet by putting them on a footrest, sofa or another chair. Move Your toes and ankles up and down for about 5 minutes twice or thrice day. Avoid continuous crossing of your legs.
If You are older, You will likely need a doctor as well as a family member to help You follow the leg care programme. This is particularly important if You have eyesight problems.
Do not be concerned that You need help. Protecting the healthy leg is too important for You to neglect it. With older people with peripheral neuropathy, the healthy leg needs to be examined every day. There are three strategies that You could include in the plan for leg care:
Take care of the diabetes by maintaining blood sugar within the targeted levels.
Be more active and include exercises in Your daily routine
Do not smoke
Special shoes, shoe inserts and socks for diabetics
People with diabetes and especially with diabetic neuropathy must pay special attention to the type and format of the shoes that they wear - they need to be comfortable, to fit perfectly and not create points of pressure. The force of the weight needs to be equally distributed on the lower part of the shoe. The shoe inserts need to be made of softening tissues or gel and need to be replaced when they have shrunk.
Take the habit to check the inside of the shoe before putting it on in order to be sure that the
lining is smooth and that there are no external objects in the shoe.
You could use special shoes and shoe inserts made of breathing materials which soften the load and ensure an additional support for the ankle, the arch of foot, and the heel. By equally distributing the body weight along the length of the sole, such shoes help preventing points of painful pressure/touch or squeezing, blisters and bruising.
The additional depth in the design ensures space for special shoe inserts.
The socks are a protective layer between Your skin and the shoe.
Do not wear a shoe without socks unless You are certain that the shoe material will not harm the skin.
Wear clean and dry socks, which are not too elastic/narrow or voluminous so that they can fit within the shoe. Use the special socks for diabetics.
Do not wear a shoe without socks unless You are certain that the shoe material will not harm the skin.
Wear clean and dry socks, which are not too elastic/narrow or voluminous so that they can fit within the shoe. Use the special socks for diabetics.
