Three Simple Ways to Prevent Diabetic Wounds
Diabetes is a chronic condition caused by a lack of insulin production or usage in the body. The result is high levels of blood sugar in the bloodstream, leading to various health issues. One of the most common problems is sores and ulcers, which heal slowly with a high risk of infection. To avoid such issues, learning to prevent diabetic wounds is crucial.
Constant care is the most significant aspect of managing all issues related to diabetes, including wound prevention. Seeking diabetes care, which offers podiatry services, reduces the risk of infection and other serious complications that wounds could cause. Your medical specialists will check your feet and blood sugar levels regularly, helping you to avoid any serious problems.
3 Ways to Prevent Diabetic Wounds
Wounds may seem unavoidable with diabetes, but there are measures to avoid them. The first step is regularly monitoring your blood sugar levels to prevent diabetic complications. But there are also other aspects of wound prevention that are essential. Let’s see how they can affect the wounds.
1. The right nutrition
Healthy eating is crucial for managing blood sugar levels, which is why diet education is part of diabetes care. A proper diet should consist of items that are low in calories, saturated fat, starches, salt, and sugars. Though it’s hard to avoid all foods containing these, limiting consumption is easier than believed.
Foods containing these unwanted extras include cookies, cakes, ice cream, butter, and processed or fried foods. Rather than purchasing pre-made items, stick with homemade foods to control what you’re eating. Checking food labels is also a must when trying to prevent diabetic wounds.
The healthiest meals for diabetes include fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy options, and whole grains. Nuts, beans, fish, and skinless chicken are high-protein options. Healthy oils and fats are also allowed, including olive, vegetable, and rapeseed oils.
2. Good care for feet
Sores and ulcers can occur anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the feet. Even small scrapes can quickly become open sores, healing slowly and risking infection. Luckily, several prevention methods are recommended to keep wounds to a minimum.
To prevent diabetic wounds, inspect feet daily for blisters, scratches, cuts, and ingrown toenails. Wearing clean, dry socks with no elastics and proper-fitting shoes is also a must. Avoid going barefoot or wearing sandals to reduce exposure to anything that could damage the feet. Washing feet in warm water and drying them thoroughly at least once a day is also recommended.
3. Stress management
Did you notice how stress can make any health issues worse? The stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline affect how insulin works in the body, raising blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, focusing on eating habits, checking blood sugar levels, insulin injections, and complication worries only add to the stress.
The only way to counter these issues is to find ways to cope with stress. These can include exercise, proper sleeping habits, and making time to relax. Talking to friends, families, or a trained counselor allows you to release your fears and gain outside perspectives. Reducing stress maintains proper blood sugar levels, which prevents diabetic wounds from getting worse.
Diabetes education is also essential, including wound care, a proper diet, stress management, prevention of blood sugar spikes, and emotional support.
Fairview adult day care
Fairview Adult Day Care Center in Brooklyn NY offers nursing care and podiatry services for those requiring foot monitoring and care. Our diabetes care includes diet and lifestyle education, exercise programs, and physical and other rehab therapy to meet every individual’s needs.
This article is for educational and informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For any questions about your own health condition, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.
It’s useful to know that we’d prevent diabetic wounds since they’d lead to an infection. My dad told me that my uncle got diagnosed with diabetes a few weeks ago. He has an awful-looking wound on his left foot, and my dad is looking for a doctor to help him, so I think he’ll need to read your post to prevent future wounds.