Mei Li, MD, Associate Professor, Associate Chief Physician, Academic Advisor of Youtang Health.
The weather is getting colder, and many sugar friends like to soak their feet before going to bed, but they don't know that if the feet are not soaked correctly, it is very easy to get diabetic feet. What should I pay attention to when soaking my feet?
First, the temperature of the foot soak must be appropriate, 37 degrees, that is, close to the body temperature. Because diabetic patients often have poor blood supply to their lower limbs, coupled with neuropathy, the sensory function of the peripheral nerves of the lower limbs is poor, so the perception of temperature is also poor. You can't test the temperature of the water with your own feet, you should try it with your hands or ask your family members to help you test it, it's best to take a thermometer to test, 37 degrees is fine.
Second, don't soak your feet for too long. Soaking your feet before going to bed is good for blood circulation, which helps you sleep and get a good night's sleep. But don't soak for too long, not as long as possible, about 15 minutes is better. If you soak for too long, it is easy to damage your feet.
Third, you must carefully look at your feet before and after soaking. Before soaking your feet, you should check whether there are any ulcers, infections, wounds, bleeding and suppuration on your feet. If you have these conditions, don't soak your feet first, and go to the hospital as soon as possible.
After soaking your feet, you have to dry your feet, what do you use to wipe them?Wipe your feet with a light-colored, soft, cotton, clean foot towel and dry it, especially between your toes. After wiping dry, you have to check whether there are any broken places, whether there are ulcers, and whether there are dry and cracked places. If there is a broken place, go to the hospital to see it, and if there is a dry and cracked area, apply some emollient and let it moisten it.
But remember not to apply emollient things between the toes, because it is easy to make it too wet, and it is easy to get fungus between the toes. Therefore, foot soaking is very particular, and the temperature, duration, and foot soaking before and after foot soaking should be carefully examined, so that it is not easy to get diabetic foot.
Do you remember?Like and follow, scientific sugar control in Youtang. I'm Dr. Li Mei, see you next time. Youtang Health.