Diabetes Self Care

Diabetes self care is an important part of the managing of this life long disease. There are several areas which need self care.

Diabetics have circulation problems, and nerve damage because of their disease. There are ways to lessen the damage by keeping blood glucose in control and not smoking. But no matter how well you manage your disease, after years there will still be some damage in both areas.

Diabetics should never take for granted that they are immunized from some damage of the nerve and the blood system. Every diabetic should not only see their primary doctor to manage blood glucose levels, but need to also schedule regular visits with their dentist and eye doctor. They also will have to learn self care in these three areas:

• Foot care
• Dental care
• Eye care

Caring for your feet are most important as a complication in this area can lead to an amputated limb.

Here are some tips to protect the feet:

• Inspect your feet daily for any cuts or damage to the skin.
• Calluses or corns need to be treated by your doctor.
• Wash feet daily in water which is water.
• For dry skin, apply cream or lotion to the bottom and tops of the feet.
• Never put lotion or creams between the toes as this is an area where fungus infections grow.
• Trim the toenails by straight cutting across the nail. This can avoid ingrown toenails.
• Never go barefooted.
• Break new shoes in gradually in order to prevent blisters.
• Don’t use electric blankets, heating pads, or hot water bottles which possibly burn the feet.
• Maintain blood flow to your feet. When sitting, wiggle yours toes for 5 minutes several times per day. Move ankles out and in and down and up.
• Don’t cross legs.
• Help your blood flow with walking, swimming, yoga, dancing and other low-impact activities.
• Don’t wear garters, tight socks, or any kind of bands of elastic around your feet.

Oral care is an area of that needs management beginning with self care. Because of problems with blood glucose levels, a diabetic tends to have much higher amount of dental care difficulties. This is caused by blood vessels in this area are quite small and often have problems with the flow of blood into and out of the mouth area. This means that when there is an infection, there are reduced numbers of the white blood cells needed to fight any infection.

There are a number of areas of concern. There are the problems caused by extreme dryness of the mouth caused by decreased amount of saliva. This together with excess sugar in the mouth often causes decay of teeth, infections and mouth ulcers. This problem may be helped by chewing sugarless gum, melting ice chips in the mouth, having sugarless mints available or taking frequent drinks of water.

Another area for problem development is gum disease also known as periodontitis and gingivitis. This is caused by the thickening blood vessels being unable to fight infections or provide oxygen or carry waste from the mouth area. Gum diseases start with simple infections of the gums which over time become more serious and hard to control in those with diabetes.

It is important for a diabetic to brush their teeth regularly and floss daily. It is also important to schedule regular visits with the dentist and he should be aware that you are a diabetic.

Another main area of self care is eye care. Diabetic retinopathy often develops which can lead to bad vision or eventual blindness. The reason for this is caused by the small blood vessels at the back of the eye becoming weak and this weakness often leads to fluids and blood leaking into the retina of the eye. So, it is important for the diabetic to schedule regular exams with the eye doctor. This is for a comprehensive exam including the dilation of the eyes so that the doctor can check the vessels in the back of the eye.

Keeping these areas cared for can prevent serious complications from developing. But they need to also be combined with the regular management of diet, weight and blood glucose levels.

Having a diagnosis of diabetes means a lifetime commitment to management of this disease. Diabetes self care is an important part of the managing of this chronic disease.