Look after yourself and your health with the right kind of care
Diabetics should know that daily body and foot care take a certain amount of effort but is essential for their health to prevent late dermatological complications. The feet and legs are affected by sluggish circulation, because they are farthest away from the heart. Small injuries to sensitive skin heal very slowly or may even develop into open sores. And because the poor circulation affects the nerve endings, they do not signal pain to the brain so that injuries are not immediately noticed.

Diabetes can cause:

Neuropathy
Of the approximately 23.6 million Americans with diabetes, 25% will develop foot problems related to the disease. Diabetic foot conditions develop from a combination of causes including poor circulation and neuropathy. Diabetic Neuropathy can cause insensitivity or lessen the ability to feel pain, heat, and cold. Diabetics suffering from neuropathy can develop minor cuts, scrapes, blisters, or pressure sores that they may not be aware of due to the insensitivity. If these minor injuries are left untreated, complications may result and lead to ulceration and possibly even amputation. Neuropathy can also cause deformities such as Bunions, Hammer Toes, and Charcot Feet.
It is very important for diabetics to take the necessary precautions to prevent all foot related injuries. Due to the consequences of neuropathy, daily observation of the feet is critical. When a diabetic patient takes the necessary preventative foot care measures, he or she reduces the risks of serious foot conditions.

Poor Circulation
Diabetes often leads to peripheral vascular disease that inhibits a person’s blood circulation. With this condition, there is a narrowing of the arteries that frequently leads to significantly decreased circulation in the lower part of the legs and the feet. Poor circulation contributes to diabetic foot problems by reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrition supplied to the skin and other tissue, causing injuries to heal poorly. Poor circulation can also lead to swelling and dryness of the foot. Preventing foot complications is more critical for the diabetic patient because poor circulation impairs the healing process and can lead to ulcers, infection, and other serious foot conditions.

Treatment and Prevention
Footwear and orthotics play an important role in diabetic foot care and are the first step toward prevention of foot & leg problems. We also recommend regular visits to your doctor and medical podiatrists as well as daily preventative care at home with the help of our Sixtumed product line. Developed on the basis of the latest diabetes research, Sixtumed products provide the optimum care and protection for your feet, legs and body.

Footcare
Proper foot care is especially critical for diabetics because they are prone to foot problems such as:
· Loss of feeling in their feet
· Changes in the shape of their feet
· Foot ulcers or sores that do not heal

Special skin care
The diabetic foot syndrome has a multifactor recovery. The principal influence is the interruption of the main physiology. Continuous, carried out skin care taking can avoid the “dry foot”.

Following dermatological effects should be achieved:
- Avoid overheating of the skin.
- Skin smoothing of dry, scaly skin.
- Normalization of the water household of the skin.
- Stabilization of the cellular skin metabolism.
- Maintaining the immune system and decrease of irritations (redness, swelling) of the skin.
- Support of deodorizing affects.

It is very important to pay attention to the choice of skin care products, which should leave the skin breathable and transpire able.

Daily foot care can prevent serious problems. According to the National Institute of Health, the following simple everyday steps will help prevent serious complications from diabetes:  

Ø  Wear shoes and socks at all times to help protect your feet.

Ø  Try to wear socks from natural fibres and change them daily.

Ø  Always buy shoes in the early afternoon when your feet are their normal size.

Ø  Do not wear shoes that are too tight. Leather shoes with enough toe room and a no more 1-1 ½ inch heel are ideal.

Ø  Due to the possible risk of injury do not cut your toenails, file them straight instead.

Ø  Keep your skin smooth and supple and carefully protect your feet against fungal infection.

Ø  Strengthen the muscle with daily foot exercises to stimulate the circulation and improve blood supply to the nerves.

Ø  Plan a daily footbath lasting no more than five minutes at a temperature not over 90 degree. Make sure to dry your feet thoroughly, especially between your toes.

Ø  Have your feet examined by a doctor or podiatrist at least once a year for changes to the skin, circulation and sensitivity and have any injuries immediately examined to avoid serious complications.

Ø  It is very important to monitor your skin changes through daily inspections on leg and feet, and to check for sores, blisters, redness, calluses or other problems.

Ø  Make healthy lifestyle choices to keep your blood sugar close to normal.