If you suffer from diabetes, doctor visits will be a regular part of your life. Not only will you have to see your general practitioner regularly, but you will also need to see other types of doctors, including a podiatrist. People with diabetes are at risk for developing ulcers on their feet, which is why you will need to see a podiatrist regularly. With the right steps, you might be able to prevent developing diabetic ulcers on your feet. Here are a few tips that could help you with this.

Understand why they occur

The first step in preventing diabetic ulcers is understanding why they form in the first place. The main reasons people with diabetes are prone to foot ulcers are due to poor circulation and nerve damage. Both of these issues are common with people that have diabetes, and approximately 15% of people with diabetes end up developing foot ulcers.

If you experience tingling, weakness, or stinging in your feet, you may have nerve damage and poor circulation. If so, you are more likely to develop ulcers on your feet. By understanding this, you may be able to take some additional steps to reduce your chances of developing these harmful sores.

Wear the right footwear

One of the main things you should do is wear the right footwear. Wearing compression socks is a good place to start. These socks keep the right amount of pressure on your feet and shins, and this is good for keeping the circulation moving in these areas. Secondly, wear shoes that are comfortable and that fit your feet well. If you are not sure what shoes are the best, ask a foot doctor. A foot doctor can offer a variety of options that you could choose from.

Take care of your feet

Taking care of your feet is also an important step in preventing foot ulcers. To do this, you should visually inspect your feet each day. If your nails need to be trimmed or if you have calluses or other types of problems on your feet, visit a foot doctor. Let a foot doctor handle all these tasks for you.

In addition, if you find any type of open sore or wound on your foot, you should place antibiotic cream on it immediately. You should also make an appointment with a podiatrist. Small wounds like this may seem like they are not important, but this is not the case. These small wounds, if left untreated, can end up turning into foot ulcers. Once you have foot ulcers, you take the risk of losing your foot.

Living with diabetes does require visiting the doctor more often, but this is important if you want to stay healthy. To keep your feet healthy and free from problems, contact a podiatrist, like those at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle,  today to schedule an appointment.

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