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Maintaining good foot care is essential for people with diabetes, who are at a heightened risk of developing foot-related complications.
Doing this yourself is essential, especially as new research suggests that more than 400,000 people with diabetes in England do not have an annual foot check.
This is why we have put together a video on how you can care for your feet at home, what you should do to ensure good health of your feet and how to prevent foot-related complications from developing, such as diabetic neuropathy.
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While you should receive an annual foot care check-up from a health professional – this may be more often if you have poor circulation or signs of neuropathy – caring for your feet yourself should not be difficult.
There are also a number of products you can use, such as diabetic socks, to ensure you give your feet the best possible treatment.
Regular physical activity and keeping good control of blood glucose levels and cholesterol are additionally valuable aspects of caring for your feet.
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When conducting your own foot checks, it is important to know what to do, and what signs of damage to look out for.
If your feet are not regularly checked, problems may not be identified until they have developed into something more serious.
Keep an eye out for ulcers, redness to the skin, swelling and spots, while also note how the use of moisturiser, cutting straight across the toenail and avoiding tight fitting socks can prevent problems developing with your feet.
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A common condition talked about in the DCUK Forum is swelling of the legs and/or ankles. Swelling of the legs, ankles or feet is called oedema and is a build up of fluid in the body (water retention) which causes swelling.
Swollen ankles and legs will often be brought on, or aggravated, by long periods of standing. A number of medications can increase the risk of oedema – such as corticosteroids, blood pressure medications and the contraceptive pill.
Diabetes Forum member Crissy wrote:
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