Prevention of complications - care for feet
Care for feet is still neglected and underestimated. Except that during regular visits your doctor or nurse checks your feet, it is absolutely necessary that you carefully observe soles of your feet during everyday hygiene (by means of mirror if you don't see them). After washing and good drying of feet (mainly between toes) treat your feet with hydration cream (don't apply it between toes!). Thus you will prevent desiccation and crackling of the skin and successive bacterial and fungal infections. Regular visits of pedicure are of big help. Announce clearly in advance, that you are diabetic. There are podiatric ambulances in some hospitals (specializing in feet disorders) and closely to them v salon with pedicure, where special medicinal pedicure is done.
Correct footwear for diabetics
Each small injury or scratch may lead to a serious problem. Never wear your shoes barefoot, always use socks. Even at home you shouldn't walk barefoot. In diabetics where nerves and vessels are already damaged, sensitivity towards hot, cold and pain is decreased and healing is also impaired. Therefore person for instance doesn't feel stone or lining creasing in his shoe, wrinkled or strangled socks or pricking of foreign particle in the soles. Wound then ulcerates for long and heals with difficulties.
Very strict norms of parameters for correct prophylactic footwear for diabetics were determined together with recommendations how diabetic patient should put on his shoes and how to take care about his feet in order to prevent so-called syndrome of diabetic foot.
The footwear must be utmost comfortable and must protect the foot. It must be made from natural leather (leather "breathes" and adjusts to various feet shapes) a must be closed (sandals or slippers are not suitable - there is always a danger of injury by sharp objects). Its shape and size must be appropriate - wider with sufficient space for toes as prevention of otlaků, blisters and scratches. Footwear may not have functional seams and pruženky on the vamp - as prevention of pressure on vessels and thus decreased perfusion of legs. It should have antifungal and antibacterial properties of linings and sock linings. Sock linings should be of anatomical shape and changeable. Heal may not be high in order to prevent overloading of front part of foot under the toes and development of gangrenes. Sole may be neither too soft (prevention of sores) nor too rigid (not to restrict natural bending of feet).
Cheap footwear bought in the open-air markets is absolutely not suitable. It can only start, speed up or finalize such damages which your diabetes "has not managed" yet. Care for choosing and buying certified footwear of top quality, which fulfils the strictest parameters for protection of your feet. Quality, health support and comfort is also a good present. Which better present than health and comfort for your feet can you get?
In our offer, you can find footwear MEDI® - certified, registered for prevention of diabetic leg syndrome, made by renowned footwear producer Bata stock company. Catalogue with total overview of the models MEDI® footwear can be looked up at nurse, in medical aids shops and in some pharmacies. It will be sent to you on request by our company.
Socks for diabetics
Indispensable role is played by socks which you wear. Your socks should not strangle your leg, compress and press.
Diacomfort socks were developed by MTE company in cooperation with diabetic centre in IKEM in Prague targeted to diabetics. They are registered by Ministry of health of the Czech Republic as medical aid for reduction of problems and symptoms related to diabetic leg syndrome. Special construction of the hem enables comfortable wearing without compression or rolling down. Top-toe is smooth and seamless as a prevention of pressure sores and finalization of socks in special conditioning with active ingredient insoluble in water ensures antimicrobial effect lasting for the life-time of the socks. Diacomfort socks can be bought in medical aid shops, in some pharmacies or again directly buy or order in MTE company.
Limbering and perfusion of legs
Care for your legs doesn't end up with their washing, applying of cream and putting on the shoes. Daily walk and several simple knacks for perfusion are refreshment for your legs:
- stretching of peroneal muscles - leaning with your
palms against the wall, keep your legs backward with heels
pressed to floor. 10× bend your arms, keep your back
and legs straight. You exercise your peroneal
muscles as prevention to cramps.
- climbing stairs on tiptoes - between floors walk only
on tiptoes up and down
- elevation of heels - rise on your tiptoes 20 times
(up and down), try to change also transfer of balance
from left leg to right leg and vice versa
- swinging of legs - while standing on one leg
on slightly elevated support swing with the other
leg, move the whole lower extremity forwards and
backwards 10 times, change the legs
- knee-bending - hold the chair, 10 times perform
mild movement forwards into knee bend (hold your
back straight), change the legs
- ups and sits on chair - cross your arms
on your chest, get up and sit down 10×
- shaking of legs - sit down on the floor, lean against
your arms at the back, shake your legs in the air till you
feel that they are relaxed and warmed up
