A type of slipper, known as diabetic slippers, is a specific kind of slipper that is designed with the needs of a diabetic in mind. The numbness that is brought on by diabetes, referred to as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, makes it more likely for people to slip, so diabetic slippers have wide, non-slip soles that help prevent such slipping from occurring. In order to help prevent chafing against the skin, which could otherwise lead to skin breaks and the ulceration of the foot, diabetic slippers are made of a very soft material that wraps gently around the foot, protecting it from rubbing and other such injuries. The rest of this article outlines four reasons why, if you are a diabetic, you should consider purchasing a pair of diabetic slippers and wearing them regularly.
More often than you might think, the shoes and socks that people wear every day are not the correct size. One problem that all diabetics suffer from is an impaired ability to heal; this means that the constant rubbing and chafing that you would normally find as a result of footwear that does not fit properly or is uncomfortable, the skin breaks down and eventually opens into open ulcers. A small wound may not seem like much of a concern at first, but the thing to keep in mind is that even a small wound on the foot has a high probability of becoming infected, which could lead to some very severe complications.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a potentially serious condition that is, unfortunately, quite common among many diabetics and is caused by the combination of bad blood circulation and nerve damage due to high blood sugar levels. It starts as nothing more than a bit of a tingling in the feet, but it eventually grows into a total numbness which can make it quite difficult to walk without tripping or slipping. The wide, flat base and no-skid bottom that marks a diabetic slipper is intended to provide you with some extra stability so that it becomes easier to walk around without slipping.
Again, you will find that many of the reasons that wearing diabetic slippers is a good idea step directly from the development of peripheral neuropathy. When you are walking around in bare feet that also happen to be numb due to neuropathy, unless you actually look down, you will have a great deal of difficulty telling whether you are walking on a plush carpet or whether you are walking on broken glass. Wearing diabetic slippers, while not making you invulnerable, makes it much less likely that you will damage your feet by walking on something that otherwise could have potentially cut or otherwise damage your foot.
The complications of having diabetes are the single most common reason that people have to visit the hospital in the United States every year for foot or lower limb amputations. When you take the time to wear diabetic footwear, in this case diabetic slippers, you are taking steps toward stopping small problems from becoming much larger ones that could potentially result in something like amputation. Wearing them in conjunction with diabetic slipper socks is also helpful. The socks help improve leg circulation and prevent chafing, and the slippers themselves help prevent the feet from becoming damaged.
So, it would seem that wearing diabetic slippers holds a number of different benefits from diabetics. Especially when you are diabetic, proper foot care is vitally important. Without proper foot care, the end result of what may otherwise seem like a very minor cut may end up being amputation. Take care of your feet.
When it comes to the amputation or some or all of the legs, there is no cause more common than diabetes, or specifically, diabetic ulcers on the feet and legs. Some studies have found that diabetics are 40 times more likely to have to undergo an amputation than someone who does not have diabetes mellitus. The vast majority of these amputations start as nothing more than small diabetic ulcers on the feet. If you have diabetes and you are serious about preventing and treating the ulcers that could lead to eventual amputation, there are a number of steps that you will need to take.
Diabetic Foot Care Requires a Podiatrist While this is in no way a recommendation to eliminate your primary care physician, the truth is that most family doctors seldom, if ever examine the feet unless you ask them to, even in the case of diabetics. This is a huge problem because nearly 25 percent of all diabetes-related hospital admissions are the result of foot complications. In order to ensure that you are doing everything in your power to take care of your feet and avoid these potential complications, it is vital that you visit a podiatrist regularly. In the event that your feet become injured or show signs of developing ulcers, it is important to visit the doctor right away so that the condition doesn’t get worse.
Maintain Healthy Skin In order to prevent ulceration in the skin, it is important that you do everything you can to keep your skin as healthy as possible. This starts with simple vigilance. Examine your feet every day for any potential sign of injury, deformity, or anything out of the ordinary. If your eyesight is not very good, ask a caretaker to help you with your self-examination.
Next, you need to keep your skin clean and soft. This will help maintain the strength and elasticity of the skin, which will help to prevent injury. Gently wash your feet every day in warm water with a mild, chemical-free soap, then pat them dry with a soft towel. Immediately following the washing, apply a topical moisturizer to prevent the feet from drying out. Specialty lotions containing a variety of vitamins, minerals and extracts, including everything from aloe to vitamin A are available, but there is no conclusive research to justify their use over something cheaper and more practical, such as shea butter.
Wear Protective Diabetic Footwear While you are doing everything you can to make your skin as strong as possible, it is still very possible to injure them anyway. This is especially true due to a condition common to diabetics: peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy is a condition that results from damage to the nerves of the feet, leaving them numb. This means that you could easily step on something, cut yourself, and know nothing about it until you notice it later on. Wearing diabetic footwear cuts down on this risk immensely.
For simple around the house walking, there are a variety of different types of diabetic slippers available to help protect your feet. These are specialty slippers that are designed to provide you with extra stability when walking and to provide additional softness against the skin so that there is no damage due to chafing. The same is true of diabetic shoes, which are a very similar device, but are designed for outdoor use as well. Wearing seamless or diabetic socks with these is also a good idea, as the combination will keep chafing to a minimum.
Even though diabetic ulcers are the main cause of lower limb amputation, there are many things that you can do to help minimize the risk. It all comes down to doing what you can to take care of your feet, whether it be washing them, moisturizing them, protecting them with footwear, or visiting the doctor. Just remember that they are the only feet you have. Take care of them and make use of any additional health tips your doctor may provide.
