Diabetes Care

Approximately one fifth of diabetic Americans are hospitalized for foot-related problems at some point in their lives. Many symptoms of diabetes contribute to the risk of foot infection. Diabetics often experience thick calluses which can break and develop into ulcers. Another possible symptom of diabetes is poor circulation which – in turn – impairs the body’s ability to heal, repair and fend off infection. Diabetes can also lead to neuropathy, severe nerve damage that limits sensation in extremities. Because of nerve damage, a diabetic may not even feel the pain of an injury or infection, allowing wounds to go unnoticed and thus worsen. When a wound is left untreated for too long, it can become infected. Medical treatment can include antibiotics, hospitalization, and – in extreme circumstances – amputation. The feet are particularly vulnerable as they are often out of sight and difficult to inspect. For these many reasons, it is vitally importance that diabetics practice thoughtful, rigorous foot care.

The following are recommended tips for keeping your feet happy and healthy!

• Always wear appropriate diabetic shoes or slippers and NEVER walk around barefoot. Choosing the right footwear is critical to foot health as the majority of diabetic foot injuries are the result of poor fitting shoes. Shoes for diabetics should not be too tight or narrow. They should be constructed from comfortable, breathable material and feature mesh vents to ventilate the shoes, decreasing moisture, which tends to bred bacteria. Pair a high quality pair of diabetic shoes with seamless socks or compression stockings.
• Regularly check your feet for any sign of calluses, blisters, sores, or injuries. Make it a daily ritual, perhaps something you complete right after brushing your teeth and before bed. Use a hand mirror to inspect those hard-to-see places. If that doesn’t work, have a family member check your feet for you.
• Wash your feet every day and after rigorous exercise or activity. Use soap and warm water – test the temperature with your elbow if you have difficulty discerning the temperature. Do NOT soak feet. Prolonged soaking can lead to dry, cracked skin.
• After washing your feet, use an emery board carefully file down calluses. Do not over-file as that can lead to sores and bleeding – which is exactly what you are trying to avoid.
• Use a light coat of lotion after you wash and file. Be careful not to slather on lotion or allow it to trap between the toes as this creates an excellent environment for bacteria to breed. Massage in the lotion until it is completely absorbed.
• Trim your nails as needed. Most people find once a week or every other week works best. Shape the nail to the contour of your toes and be careful to not trim them too short. File the edges to prevent snagging nails that can tear.
• Never ignore foot issues of any kind. If you discover a cut, treat it immediately. If you notice as of the following, contain your physician immediately: swelling, cracks around the heel, calluses that bleed, nail issues, open sores, changes in color of the skin, pain in your legs, or changes in skin temperature.
• Visit your doctor for an annual foot check-up. Ask if they have any concerns or can recommend any products for improving your foot care regimen. Continue Reading

Just why should someone consider using an Ascensia Breeze diabetes care system? In this article we will look at why a person suffering from diabetes should consider using this monitoring system compared to some of the others which are available on the market today.

Unlike many of the other monitoring systems available today this particular model does not require the user to manually recalibrate the machine each time a new test strip is placed within it. Instead the machine automatically does the recalibration by setting the right code once a test strip is inserted into it. So because of this there is less chance for the user to cause errors through them typing in the wrong code and plus it means that they have less steps to do in order to get a sample analyzed.

It now only takes 5 seconds for a person to be provided with an accurate test result in relation to their blood glucose levels. Plus they have a very good memory which helps to provide a person with a way of better managing their diabetes. This particular model can actually hold 100 test results for the person who is using it.

Also the Ascensia Breeze only requires the person using it to provide a small sample of their blood in order for the analysis to take place. Plus because it comes with the disc system (which contains 10 test strips) no longer do they need to worry about handling each strip individually when carrying out the test. Because of this the Arthritis Foundation in America has commended this particular blood glucose monitoring system as being one of the best that people who suffer from arthritis and diabetes can use. The reasons why they are commending this particular system relates to the Autodisc system that it uses. This particular testing system uses electrochemical biotechnology which incorporates capillary gap technology and so can actually draw automatically on to the test sensor the blood that is required in order for the test to be carried out. Continue Reading

Diabetes is categorized into two kinds: Type I and Type II. Type I diabetes is very similar to an autoimmune disease. The body’s immune system begins to attack its own pancreas, leaving the patient in need of regular insulin injections. This type of diabetes usually begins at a young age and accounts for about 5 to 10% of all cases of the disease. Type II diabetes is much more prevalent. More than 15 million Americans have this type of diabetes in some stage. There are many names for Type II diabetes, among them simple sugar diabetes, even though sugar is sometimes not the main cause or problem. It is a common misconception that people with Type II diabetes should just stay away from sugar to remain healthy, but that is not the way the disease works.

Type I diabetes is a disorder that is generally unavoidable. Some people just develop it. Type II diabetes can be caused by the patient. A poor diet, not enough exercise, and a predisposition toward developing a bad reaction to high sugar intake can cause an onset of Type II diabetes. Once it develops, it can still be regulated with the proper diet and the right amount of exercise, but if it is just ignored, it will become very dangerous. Diabetes can lead to other serious problems, like kidney disease or outright renal failure, eye diseases leading to blindness, and nerve damage to the lower limbs. Approximately 50% of all amputations of lower limbs done in the United States annually are because of diabetes.

The way for a victim of diabetes to become healthy again is to watch their diet and get plenty of exercise. Type I diabetes cannot be cured, but Type II can be mitigated by weight loss and keeping your weight, cholesterol, and AC1 regulated. In time, you might not even need medications anymore.

That’s jumping ahead, however. The first thing to do is to learn about the disease so you know what you’re facing, before you learn how to overcome it. Continue Reading