Diagnosing and treating early diabetic foot disease with neuropad®
Why do people with diabetes experience problems with their feet?
Sustained high blood glucose levels over a long period of time can cause damage to the nerve systems in the body.
Damage to the nerves in this way is most likely to affect the feet of people with diabetes
What is Anhidrosis?
Anhidrosis is the term used to describe dry feet, some people suffer from an unusually dry skin that leaves the skin, flakey, peeling and thin. Some parts of the foot may thicken and crack. The heels are particularly prone to cracking which leads to fissures. These can be deep and bleed when they split.
Not all thick skin on the heels are Dry skin, so in order to distinguish dry skin from callus by observing the texture of the skin on other parts of the foot like the arch. Anhidrosis (dry Skin) is dry on top of the foot as well, and may appear up the legs and on the hands.
Calluses however are sites of pressure and shearing due to footwear or biomechanical problems. However at times they do exist in combination. Dry skin may have its root in skin conditions like Tinea Pedis (athletes foot), or Eczema.
How can I start looking after my feet?
neuropad® 10–Minute Screening Test® is a simple way to diagnose early diabetic foot disease.
The test is non-invasive and painless and can be done at home or in the pharmacy. The test costs £16.50 and is available in all Dears Pharmacies.
neuropad® 10–Minute Screening Test® may pick up diabetes-related foot problems early so that more serious complications may be avoided through initiation of timely treatment.
Why people with diabetes should look after their feet?
Usually when skin is damaged as a result of dry skin it has the ability to heal quickly.
In patients with diabetes the healing process is slower and on occasion this can lead to the formation of an ulcer.
People with diabetes need to look after their feet. Establishing a simple foot care routine is vital.
Applying emollients or moisturising creams to the foot, may make a difference if done on a regular basis, and certainly some creams are more effective than others. Those that do not appear to respond to creams may have un underlying Fungal Infection, that appears as dry skin, throughout the bottom of the feet, with a hint of redness. These will require a different approach to treatment. Other reasons for dryness may be due to diabetes, poor circulation and nutritional deficiency.
Emmolients that have urea in them, are more effective in assisting the cells in moisture retention.
Certain skins are sensitive to soap, and may respond better to products that act as cleansing agents.
We also sell neuropad® foot repair foam to support with your foot care routine for £12.99
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