Toes in the Sand

Well, it is summertime!! Yay! Flip flops and crocs here we come!

Well, maybe.

For diabetics, foot health and proper footwear is SO important and can often be overlooked! We mostly think of foot infections and issues with older patients, but we should start early talking to our young diabetics about proper footcare and set an example early in life for them to follow as they get older.

The big picture behind foot issues and diabetes has to do with nerve damage done by constant, high blood sugars. So, patients may lose some sensation in their feet keeping them from knowing they might have a sore or cut. If they are unaware of a foot injury and it goes untreated and unnoticed, infection (keeping in mind high sugars make it hard to heal infections) could occur.

Hopefully, we are able to keep our kids' A1C levels low enough throughout the adolescence that they won't have any nerve damage. However, we should still discuss with them the importance of keeping their sugars in check and keeping their toes and feet clean, nails properly trimmed, and minimizing their risk of any infection by not going barefoot in unclean places. Additionally, children are always growing as are their feet, too! Donate or toss old shoes that have become too small and buy proper fitting shoes that don't cause blisters.

If you are an adult diabetic who reads the blog and struggle with poor circulation and foot health, feel free to call Sue at our Jodeco location at 770-507-1234. She can assist you with compression hosiery or diabetic socks.

Happy Summer!