Simple Daily Diabetic Foot Care, Diet and Activities

Simple Daily Diabetic Foot

With the observance of National Diabetes Month in November, Dr. Singh reminds residents with diabetes that following simple foot care tips can reduce their risk of toe, foot or leg amputations.

People with diabetes are 10 times more likely to have a lower limb amputated than people without diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Singh says the disease can cause poor blood circulation and nerve damage in the feet, making them vulnerable to developing ulcers, infections, deformities and brittle bones.

• Inspect feet daily for injuries that could lead to dangerous ulcers.
• Gently wash feet in lukewarm (not hot!) water.
• Moisturize feet, avoiding the area between the toes.
• Never trim corns or calluses; this can lead to serious infections.
• Inspect the inside of shoes before wearing.

People with diabetes must always be vigilant and see a foot and ankle surgeon at the first sign of trouble. Early treatment can keep diabetic foot problems from progressing, and reduce the risk of amputations.

Eating Healthy and Physical Activity
Nutrition and physical activity are important parts of a healthy lifestyle when you have diabetes. Along with other benefits, following a healthy meal plan and being active can help you keep your blood glucose level in your target range. To manage your blood glucose, you need to balance what you eat and drink with physical activity and diabetes medication, if you take any. What you choose to eat, how much you eat, and when you eat are all important in keeping your blood glucose level in the range that your health care team recommends.

Becoming more active and making changes in what you eat and drink can seem challenging at first. You may find it easier to start with small changes and get help from your family, friends, and health care team. Eating well and being physically active most days of the week can help you: keep your blood glucose level, blood pressure, and cholesterol in your target ranges; lose weight or stay at a healthy weight; prevent or delay problems associated with diabetes; feel good and have more energy

• Food – The key to eating with diabetes is to eat a variety of healthy foods from all food groups, in the amounts your meal plan outlines.

• Vegetables
– Nonstarchy: includes broccoli, carrots, greens, peppers, and tomatoes
– Starchy: includes potatoes, corn, and green peas

• Fruits—includes oranges, melon, berries, apples, bananas, and grapes

• Grains—(at least half of your grains for the day should be whole grains)includes wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, and quinoa such as bread, pasta, cereal, and tortillas

• Protein – lean meat, chicken or turkey without the skin, fish, eggs, nuts and peanuts, dried beans and certain peas, such as chickpeas and split peas, meat substitutes, such as tofu

• Dairy—nonfat or low fat – milk or lactose-free milk if you have lactose intolerance, yogurt, cheese

Eat foods with heart-healthy fats, which mainly come from these foods: oils that are liquid at room temperature, such as canola and olive oil, nuts and seeds, heart-healthy fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, avocado. Use oils when cooking food instead of butter, cream, shortening, lard, or stick margarine.

Limit-fried foods and other foods high in saturated fat and trans fat, foods high in salt/sodium, sweets, beverages with added sugars. Drink water instead of sweetened beverages. Consider using a sugar substitute in your coffee or tea. If you drink alcohol, drink moderately—no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman or two drinks a day if you’re a man. If you use insulin or diabetes medicines that increase the amount of insulin your body makes, alcohol can make your blood glucose level drop too low. This is especially true if you haven’t eaten in a while. It’s best to eat some food when you drink alcohol.

When should I eat? Some people with diabetes need to eat at about the same time each day. Others can be more flexible with the timing of their meals.

Depending on your diabetes medicines or type of insulin, you may need to eat the same amount of carbohydrates at the same time each day. If you take “mealtime” insulin, your eating schedule can be more flexible.

Weight-loss planning – If you are overweight or have obesity, work with your health care team to create a weight-loss plan. To lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories and replace less healthy foods with foods lower in calories, fat, and sugar. If you have diabetes, are overweight or obese, and are planning to have a baby, you should try to lose any excess weight before you become pregnant. Learn more about planning for pregnancy if you have diabetes.

Physical Activity – Physical activity lowers blood glucose levels, lowers blood pressure, improves blood flow, burns extra calories, improves your mood, can prevent falls and improve memory in older adults, and may help you sleep better.

Even small amounts of physical activity can help. Experts suggest that you aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity 5 days of the week. Be patient. It may take a few weeks of physical activity before you see changes in your health.

Be sure to drink water before, during, and after exercise to stay well hydrated. The following are some other tips for safe physical activity when you have diabetes.

Prevent low blood glucose-Because physical activity lowers your blood glucose, you should protect yourself against low blood glucose levels, also called hypoglycemia. You are most likely to have hypoglycemia if you take insulin or certain other diabetes medicines, such as a sulfonylurea. Hypoglycemia also can occur after a long intense workout or if you have skipped a meal before being active. Hypoglycemia can happen during or up to 24 hours after physical activity.

Planning is key to preventing hypoglycemia. For instance, if you take insulin, your health care provider might suggest you take less insulin or eat a small snack with carbohydrates before, during, or after physical activity, especially intense activity. You may need to check your blood glucose level before, during, and right after you are physically active.

Lori DeBlasi, DPM

Dr. Lori DeBlasi is certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery®. Dr. DeBlasi works at Family Foot & Leg Center at the Estero office. She is accepting new patients.

To make an appointment, call 239-430-3668 or visit www.NaplesPodiatrist.com.

Family Foot and Leg Center

21401 Corkscrew Village Lane,
Suite 4
Estero, FL 33928

(239) 430 – 3668 (FOOT)
www.NaplesPodiatrist.com