Myth: People with diabetes can't cut their own toenails Not true: the general advice on toenail cutting applies to everyone. If you have diabetes you should keep your nails healthy by cutting them to the shape of the end of your toes.
Diabetics can have a harder time healing from a wound, and should a jagged nail snag, it could rip off part of their nail. Plus, the uneven edge could accidentally scratch their legs while sleeping.
Take Care of Your Toenails
Trim them straight across, then smooth with a nail file. Avoid cutting into the corners of toes. Don't let the corners of your toenails grow into the skin. This could lead to an ingrown toenail.
Most lower leg and foot removals begin with foot ulcers. An ulcer that won't heal causes severe damage to tissues and bone. It may require surgical removal (amputation) of a toe, a foot or part of a leg. Some people with diabetes are at higher risk than others.
It is advisable to have a podiatrist regularly perform the toenail care for diabetics since a small cut from trimming their own nails could quickly escalate into a larger issue. You can help minimize further issues by having a podiatrist regularly perform your nail care.
Medicare will cover the treatment of corns, calluses, and toenails once every 61 days in persons having certain systemic conditions. Examples of such conditions include: Diabetes with peripheral arterial disease, peripheral arterial disease, peripheral neuropathy, and chronic phlebitis.
People with diabetes are covered by Medicare Part B for foot care services including: nail care. removal of calluses and corns. specialized shoes and inserts.
Tingling, burning, or pain in your feet. Loss of sense of touch or ability to feel heat or cold very well. A change in the shape of your feet over time. Loss of hair on your toes, feet, and lower legs.
Men with diabetes are 3x more likely to have trouble getting or keeping an erection. There can be several reasons for this, such as limited blood flow, nerve damage (neuropathy) and damaged blood vessels. It can also be down to medication or just how you're feeling at the time.
Why would amputation be necessary? In some cases, diabetes can lead to peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD causes your blood vessels to narrow and reduces blood flow to your legs and feet. It may also cause nerve damage, known as peripheral neuropathy.
What to Look For in Diabetic Toenails. The first toenail change you'll notice in diabetic patients is likely to be discoloration. Most have some yellowing of the nails, though the shade and involvement can vary. Discoloring may start at the distal edge (tip), and run all the way to the root of the nail bed.
Combining an oral drug with a topical one you rub on your nails may increase the chance of curing the infection. Terbinafine (Lamisil) and itraconazole (Sporanox) are both considered safe for people with diabetes.
Podiatrists play a key role in the early detection and treatment of foot problems in people with diabetes. Neuropathy (nerve damage), arthropathy (joint damage), vasculopathy (blood vessel damage), and other complications can be avoided or delayed with annual comprehensive foot exams and treatment if needed.
Soaking the feet can dry out the skin. This can worsen the foot problems that people with diabetes experience.
Over time, poorly controlled diabetes can cause damage to blood vessel clusters in your kidneys that filter waste from your blood. This can lead to kidney damage and cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause further kidney damage by increasing the pressure in the delicate filtering system of the kidneys.
Feel free to drink more caffeine
Love coffee or tea? Great! A 2005 review showed that caffeine may improve blood flow and relax the muscles that help you get and keep an erection. Try to keep it to black coffee, unsweetened tea, and caffeinated drinks without sweeteners.
Potential risks of Viagra for diabetics
There are no particular additional risks for men with diabetes who choose to take ED medication when compared with men without diabetes, but most ED pills do come with side effects that should be considered. These include: headaches. muscle and back pain.
Diabetes Belly Fat is a sign that the body is failing. Stomach fat is linked to Heart failure in the diabetic. Lack of good insulin causes the body to store fat at the waist.
Diabetic dermopathy appears as pink to red or tan to dark brown patches, and it is most frequently found on the lower legs. The patches are slightly scaly and are usually round or oval. Long-standing patches may become faintly indented (atrophic).
Diabetic neuropathy is common and can't be reversed. However, you can manage it through a variety of ways. These include: managing blood glucose levels.
All diabetic patients should have a podiatrist. On your initial exam, your podiatrist will tell you if you are at low or high risk for complications in your feet. Generally speaking, a diabetic patient that has good ciruculation and no neurologic deficit (numbness/burning/tingling) can be seen on an annual basis.
Taking excellent care of your feet is crucial. Diabetes Forecast says you can get a pedicure at a nail salon as long as you don't have an infection cut ulcer or neuropathy — but urges you to use caution and good judgment. The most important thing they advise is to make sure the salon you choose is extremely clean.
Your foot check is part of your annual review, which means you should have it as part of your diabetes care and it's free on the NHS. This is because you're more likely to have serious foot problems and these can lead to amputations.