One out of every five people who check into foot hospitals have diabetes. Diabetes has been known to affect nerves in the feet and as such, people afflicted with it have foot injuries which they cannot recall how they happened. This is because diabetics may have lost some feeling in their legs which results in bruises, cuts and abrasions that went unnoticed and untreated.

Other problems that diabetics may experience with their feet are ulcers, poor blood circulation, and nerve damage. If left untreated, these conditions can escalate and necessitate amputation. But how can a diabetic care for their feet?

Warnings

If diabetes has started affecting your feet, there are tell-tale signs that you will notice before things get out of hand. One of them is a slight discoloration of the skin around the feet. Then from time to time the temperature of the feet drops and rises irrespective of the rest of the body. At times the diabetic experiences excruciating pain.

Other ailments that the diabetic contends with is swellings in the foot or ankle that torment the person especially when they walk or use their feet for any activity. Because of nerve damage, the diabetic may not realize that he or she is injured and the injury may go unnoticed and hence untreated. This may also cause the toenails to be infected with fungus.

But perhaps the most serious and grievious foot maladies are the ulcers which usually occur at the bottom of the big toe or on either sides of the foot. These can be further aggrevated by wearing certain shoes. In extreme cases and if left untreated this can also cause amputation.

Diabetes can also affect nerves inside the foot causing the diabetic to be unable to feel basic sensations such as hot or cold or pain. This is the sole reason why many people suffering from diabetes have cuts and bruises that can go unnoticed. These can also become infected and cause serious problem.

The diabetic should select shoes carefully whenever they purchase shoes. They can also consult with their doctor for recommendations regarding the best shoes.

A few extra tips include:

• Avoiding walking barefoot
• Get into the habit of examining your feet daily
• Avoid very hot water when bathing your feet
• Consult a podriatist regularly
• When you wash your feet, dry them thoroughly

Research reports on the experiences of diabetics profess that the diabetics need a small portion of sugary foods that are low in sugar. Prone to diabetes, it is needless to totally keep off sweets and sugary foods. Instead, a diabetic can slash down a portion of regular diet and add a delicious sweet as an exchange diet without loss of total calories. That way, the normal blood sugar levels can be maintained and diabetes be kept under control since the sweets and sugary foods with least servings do not shoot up the sugar levels. A good diet meal plan can help a diabetic to stay safe and manage diabetes with the following precaution measures to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Consult your doctor: Whatever may be your condition, start medication by consulting your doctor to diagnose thoroughly and prescribe medicine to suit your body type. It will be risky if medicines are had from the counter for diabetes without proper diagnosis.

Proper meal plan: Medicines alone cannot help you to lower blood sugars. What is needed more is choosing right diabetic diet foods to ensure normal blood condition. It goes without saying that foods high in carbohydrates and fats should me minimized while increasing the consumption of dietary fiber foods. Fresh vegetables and selected fruits should be preferred for diabetes rather than those preserved in freezers and processed in tins.

Check blood sugar levels: Periodical monitoring of normal blood sugar levels is a safety measure for changing the lifestyle with diabetes. Being diabetic, you can keep a check to your abnormal blood sugar levels in the bloodstream by having exercise routine with daily morning walks for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Research reveals shocking finds

There has been a lot of research into the causes and remedies of diabetes. Of particular interest is whether certain lifestyles promote diabetes. One of the them is obesity. Does being overweight promote diabetes? This is a question that has sparked a lot of debate and also significant amount of research.

While the exact causes of diabetes have not been conclusively known, doctors and medical researchers are in agreement that obesity does not help if one is suffering from diabetes. Some doctors even seem to think that it accelerates diabetes.

For starters, researchers have discovered a correlation between gene mutation and obesity. This gene mutation affects the way the body processes insulin. It therefore goes without saying that the more obese one is, the higher the likelihood to succumb to diabetes.

Children are also at risk

It has also been unearthed by research, that children who are obese are twice as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, a fact that has sent many parents scrambling to ensure their children cut down on fatty foods. DNA researchers are also trying to trace the link between obesity and diabetes in children under 12 but the studies are still ongoing.

Making smart dietary and exercise choices

All in all, this sobering information. It means that at the onset, parents have to monitor their children’s diet rigorously to ensure that they are not at risk of developing diabetes. This may involve keeping a close watch f when they snack, what they snack on and what calories they are ingesting.

At-risk persons should also get into an exercise regimen. This need not be complicated. One need not even enroll in any gym class. A simple walk around the neighborhood or a morning swim can do just fine. There are also many gymnasiums which offer personalized training programs that can help you cut down on weight faster.

Whenever one goes grocery shopping, they should also shop smart. One of the ways to do this is to read the label on the food. Monitoring calories, cholesterol and fats is recommended.

The results support the long-term safety and efficacy of DES in diabetic patients, who tend to have more extensive CAD and higher rates of disease progression and restenosis than their nondiabetic counterparts.

The national Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR) records data on all patients undergoing coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention. It also allows analysis of patient outcomes through linkage with other national databases.

For the present study, Stefan James (Uppsala Clinical Research Center) and fellow members of the SCAAR/SWEDEHEART study group evaluated long-term outcomes in patients with diabetes undergoing coronary angiography and stenting with either DES or BMS.

A total of 9710 diabetic patients underwent coronary stenting between 2003 and 2006, and were followed-up for a median of 2.5 years.

Analysis revealed that the composite outcome of death or MI was similar irrespective of the type of stent used, with a relative risk (RR) of 0.91 for DES versus BMS.

However, rates of both MI and restenosis were significantly lower in patients who received a DES, with RRs of 0.80 and 0.50, respectively, versus BMS. The reduction in restenosis was observed in patients with either stable or unstable CAD, and was most pronounced in those with a stent diameter of less than 3 mm or a stent length of more than 20 mm.

Importantly, the presence of restenosis was associated with a five-fold increased risk for MI (RR=50.3), irrespective of type of stent received.

“The use of DES in diabetic patients is considered off-label by the US Food and Drug Administration , because adequate numbers of diabetic patients have not been evaluated in clinical trials,” remark the authors.

“Despite this categorization, our real-life study shows that DES is safe and effective in reducing clinical restenosis in patients with diabetes mellitus.”

The study is reported in the European Heart Journal.

MedWire (www.medwire-news.md) is an independent clinical news service provided by Current Medicine Group, a trading division of Springer Healthcare Limited. © Springer Healthcare Ltd; 2009

Free abstract

“Individuals with diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and exhibit platelet hyper-reactivity, increasing their resistance to antithrombotic therapies such as aspirin and clopidogrel,” explain researchers.

“As a consequence, more potent antiplatelet therapeutic strategies are increasingly being used to reduce thrombotic complications in diabetes mellitus; however, these approaches have minimal impact on atherosclerotic lesions themselves, leading to persistent plaque instability.”

Anna Calkin (Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia) and colleagues assigned 17 individuals with Type 2 diabetes to receive an infusion of placebo (n=10) or rHDL (n=7; CSL-111; 20 mg/kg/h) for 4 hours.

The rHDL group had a 1.4-fold increase in plasma HDL cholesterol levels from baseline to 4 hours. Platelets from these individuals following the infusions also had a more than 50% reduction in their aggregation response to multiple agonists compared with controls.

In an additional in vitro study of platelets from healthy volunteers, the inhibitory effects of rHDL on platelet function were shown to be time and dose dependent, and resulted in a widespread weakening of platelet function and a more than 50% reduction in formation of thrombi.

The researchers say that the isolated phospholipid component of rHDL, which enhances the release of cholesterol from platelets and reduces the lipid content of the cell membranes, is at least partly responsible for this effect.

Of note, the apolipoprotein A-I component of rHDL had little effect on platelet function or reduction of platelet cholesterol content.

“The greater platelet inhibitory properties of rHDL compared with native HDL suggest that agents that increase pre??”B-HDL particles would have the greatest efficacy with respect to reducing platelet reactivity,” comment Calkin et al.

They conclude in the journal Circulation: “Investigations to determine whether rHDL infusions or long-term HDL-raising agents confer additional benefits to current antithrombotic agents without adversely affecting hemostasis are required.

“The present findings add a new dimension to the known antiatherosclerotic actions of reconstituted HDL to provide a rationale for HDL-raising therapies as novel antithrombotic agents.”

MedWire (www.medwire-news.md) is an independent clinical news service provided by Current Medicine Group, a trading division of Springer Healthcare Limited. © Springer Healthcare Ltd; 2009

Free abstract

Although your body regulates your blood sugar by default, there is only so much it can do; watch your own actions, so as not to thwart your body’s sugar regulation. Your blood sugar is influenced greatly by the foods that you eat. There are those foods that lower the levels; while others - which enter the bloodstream more quickly - increase sugar. The higher sugar level in your blood, the harder your pancreas has to work to produce the required insulin.

You will find here listed tips for maintaining to your sugar, which will help to combat the threat of diabetes.

1. Eat the right foods - fruits, vegetables and grains are among the kinds of foods that get digested more slowly, this being good for maintaining the right sugar in your body.

2. Exercise is good for controlling your sugar level in blood. Also, losing weight reduces the likeliness of diabetes.

3. As far as lowering sugar in blood is concerned, four or five small meals a day is better than three large meals.

4. Do not drinking lots of soft drinks because these contain a lot of sugar and carbohydrates, and diabetics are very vulnerable to this.

5. Always read the labels that come with prescription drugs - would these increase your sugar notably?

6. Sometimes stress can be responsible for elevated sugar levels - consider making changes to your lifestyle.

Foot ulcers occur in approximately 15% of people living with diabetes. Diabetic foot ulcer related amputations account for 50 - 60% of all non-traumatic lower-limb amputation. This article is one of a series of articles educating people living with diabetes.

So you are a diabetic and you have developed a foot ulcer. What is going to happen? What will your health care professional do to help you?

The goal of treatment is to prevent worsening of the ulcer and eliminate the potential for amputation. The plan is usually to treat the ulcer in its early stages, allow prompt healing of the ulcer and to prevent it from recurring in the future once it has healed. This is why it is so important to inform your health care provider right away if you notice any wound on your foot.

Upon initial examination, your health care professional will be determining the cause of your ulcer. Is it neuropathic, ischemic or a combination? Based on his or her assessment, the treatment plan to tackle the ulcer will be determined. Oftentimes, your physician will suggest having appropriate shoe modifications made to take the weight away from the area that has the ulcer. Some devices that are often used to keep pressure off the ulcer include total contact casts, removable cast walkers, or “half shoes. If your ulcer is draining it may have a dressing on to absorb the drainage.

It is important to keep the wound edges of your ulcer dry. If the edges remain moist over an extended period of time, it can cause further ulceration of the skin around the edges. Your ulcer will become larger. You may be placed on antibiotics if the wound is infected. The dressing change schedule is varied depending on the type of ulcer, the amount of drainage and the type of dressing being used.

If you develop a foot ulcer, it will be more important than ever to make sure your blood sugar levels remain in an acceptable range. Diabetics whose blood sugar levels remain high have a tendency to have foot ulcers that heal very slowly.

It is frightening to any person with diabetes when they develop a foot ulcer. They have heard of stories of other people who have ended up with amputations when the ulcer became badly infected. If you are worried, ask your health care provider about what you can do to help in healing your ulcer. If you need to, ask your health care provider about support systems out in the community that will help you to handle the fear if you are finding it hard to cope.

I hope that this article has been informative and has provided you with the information you were looking for. If you want more information, please call your health care provider.

When you were first diagnosed with diabetes, were you given instruction on how to take care of your feet on a daily basis? Chances are that you were given limited information in this very important area. The most common reason is because you and your health care professional were mainly focused on getting your blood sugar down to an acceptable range. I am a health care professional working in the diabetes education field and foot care is one area that I really stress when I talk to my clients with diabetes.

Why?

Because I have seen the damaging effects of poor foot care. These damaging effects include chronic foot ulcers that can lead to disability and in some cases, amputation.

My goal is to educate as many people as I can about how to care for your feet. The more you know about foot care, the less chance you will have in developing foot ulcers now and in the future.

Let’s start with daily care.

One of the things that are important in diabetes foot care is that you have to do it on a daily basis. Whether it is when you first get up in the morning to take a bath or shower or whether it is in the evening. The important thing is that you need to do this EVERY DAY. Very much the same way that you are checking your blood sugar every day. It needs to become part of your daily routine.

Your Daily Foot Care Routine.

1. Wash your feet in warm (never hot) water, using a mild non-perfumed soap If you have diminished sensation in your hands and feet, you can use your elbow to test the temperature of the water or you can go out and get a bath thermometer. Never soak your feet, as this can dry your skin making it prone to crack.

2. While your feet are still wet, use a pumice stone to keep calluses under control making sure you don’t rub too hard.

3. Dry your feet carefully, especially between your toes. Some people whose feet perspire find comfort in applying a little powder in between the toes.

4. Thoroughly check your feet and between your toes on a daily basis to make sure there are no cuts, cracks, ingrown toenails, blisters, etc. If you are unable to easily inspect your feet, use a hand held mirror to see the bottom of your feet. If you are still having difficulty, ask someone else to check them for you.

5. Always clean cuts or scratches with mild soap and water, and cover with a dry dressing suitable for sensitive skin.

6. Trim your toenails straight across and file any sharp edges. Don’t cut the nails too short.

7. Apply lotion to your heels and soles, preferably lotion that does not have perfume in it. Wipe off any excess lotion that is not absorbed. Don’t put lotion between your toes, as the excessive moisture can promote infection.

8. Wear fresh clean socks and well-fitting shoes every day

I cannot stress it enough; your daily foot care routine along with managing your blood sugar will significantly make a difference between having a good quality of life vs. living with disability. Here are some other guidelines to ensure that your feet remain healthy. I call this my Do’s and Don’ts list.

Foot Care Do’s And Don’ts

Do wear well-fitting shoes. The shoes should be supportive, have low heels (less than 5 cm high) and should not rub or pinch your feet. It is a good idea to shop at a reputable store with knowledgeable staff that can professionally fit your shoes.

Do wear loose socks at night if your feet get cold.

Do elevate your feet when you are sitting.

Do wiggle your toes and move your ankles around for a few minutes several times a day.

Do exercise regularly to improve foot and leg circulation.

Do inspect your feet daily and in particular check for skin temperature differences between your feet.

Don’t wear high heels, pointed-toe shoes, sandals (open toe or open heel) or worn-out shoes.

Don’t wear anything tight around your legs, such as tight socks or knee-highs.

Don’t go barefoot, even indoors. Even if this means buying a pair of shoes for indoors and another pair for outdoors.

Don’t put hot water bottles or heating pads on your feet.

Don’t cross your legs for long periods of time.

Don’t smoke.

Don’t have pedicures by non-healthcare professionals.

I hope that this article has been informative and has provided you with good guidelines to take care of your feet. If you take these guidelines and use them on a daily basis, my goal will have been accomplished and you will have been given the opportunity to live your life to the fullest.

No! I think you are not right; as here is the news that will turn your joy to thrill.

The simple addition of these foods that lower blood sugar level into your meal plan can make you a healthier and normal person. I can bet that you’ll end saying

Where is the sugar???

Grains: Generally grains are said to be best for diabetics. I love to eat oats. Better idea is to go in the super market. You’ll find various bins of different types of granola. Read the labels carefully and check the sugar content. There will be some as low as 4 gm. I’m sure the temptation is to grab the one with 20 gm; as you are suffering from sugar craving because of diabetes. This is the point where your concern for your adrenal glands and blood sugar level must kick in. This concern will definitely help you to pick the one with maximum 8 gm sugar.

Design the breakfast in such a way that it contains foods that lower blood sugar level. Better give your blood a rest from biscuits, pancakes, doughnuts, white bread and some other sugar laden foods.

Here is a nice idea for breakfast

Take 2 handfuls of granola and add it to the half cup of low fat yogurt and ? cup of skimmed milk. You can choose coconut and almond granola; as this mix is loaded with good fat content of almonds and fortified with fiber content of coconut.

Sweet Potato: It is not easy to believe that foods which start with the word sweet bring an impression of joy along with the health benefits. These foods also help to adjust the intensity of sweet tooth. Sweet potato helps to stabilize the blood sugar level. It also enables to respond the hormone that stabilizes the movement of glucose from bloodstream into cells. Beta carotene content of sweet potato has the potential to reverse this insulin resistance of the body. It also contains a good amount of vitamin B6 which then help to keep the diabetics away from diabetic complications.

Just bake the sweet potato in microwave. Add it to salads, make a soup of sweet potato or just stir diced sweet potato into cooked brown rice. Your creativity will certainly take you away from French fries

Snack on nuts: It is better if you roast raw nuts. Roast for 10 minutes in the oven at 425 degrees. Never trust tinned nuts; as you should not trust the source of the oil that has been used. As diabetic you must be thoughtful about the fats that you pour into your body.

Glucose regulated by two things: insulin and glucagon. Insulin is produced by the pancreas: it is a hormone which is released into your bloodstream every time there is detected a rise in glucose levels.

Normal blood glucose levels fall anywhere between 70 and 150mg. Such levels are usually lower in the early hours of the day; and they rise after a meal. A person who consistently has their blood sugar levels higher than 150, suffers from hyperglycemia. Conversely, anyone who shows a level that is below 70 suffers from low sugar, or hypoglycemia. Potentially fatal, hypoglycemia has symptoms that include lethargy, impaired mental functioning, irritability and unconsciousness. Persistent hyperglycemia can and does result in a condition of diabetes mellitus; the most common disease linked to sugar registration failure. And diabetes itself can manifest damages to one’s eyes, kidneys and nerves. This is why keeping normal blood glucose levels is essential!

Blood glucose tests continue to be used to measure the level of glucose in one’s bloodstream; for the purpose of checking for diabetes, monitoring the treatment of someone’s diabetes, or checking for a condition of hypoglycemia. And there is no single kind of glucose test. With the “fasting blood sugar” test, glucose levels are examined after an eight-hour fast (this test is usually the first one performed when checking for a condition of diabetes in someone). The levels of sugar in blood are considered normal if between 70 and 99. Then there is the “two-hour postprandial blood sugar” test: this measures glucose two hours after a meal.