Diabetic Foot Massage Diabetes affects 246 million people worldwide, and that number is expected to rise to 380 million by the year 2025. One you have diabetes, you can see how much it can take over your life. You have to monitor both what you eat and your blood sugar levels for the rest of your life. But It’s not just that you have to watch. Your feet are very important too. But let me first give you a bit of info on diabetes: Causes Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar. Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin, resistance to insulin, or both. To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process by which food is broken down and used by the body for energy. Several things happen when food is digested: - A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body. - An organ called the pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into muscle, fat, and liver cells, where it can be used as fuel. People with diabetes have high blood sugar. This is because: - Their pancreas does not make enough insulin - Their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond to insulin normally - Both of the above Types of Diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. Many patients are diagnosed when they are older than age 20. In this disease, the body makes little or no insulin. Daily injections of insulin are needed. The exact cause is unknown. Genetics, viruses, and autoimmune problems may play a role. Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. It makes up most of diabetes cases. It usually occurs in adulthood, but young people are increasingly being diagnosed with this disease. The pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to insulin. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, although it is a serious condition. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to increasing obesity and failure to exercise. Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes. Women who have gestational diabetes are at high risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. You can take good care of yourself and your diabetes by learning • • •
what to eat how much to eat when to eat
Making wise food choices can help you • • •
feel good every day lose weight if you need to lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other problems caused by diabetes
Healthful eating helps keep your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, in your target range. Physical activity and, if needed, diabetes medicines also help. The diabetes target range is
the blood glucose level suggested by diabetes experts for good health. You can help prevent health problems by keeping your blood glucose levels on target. You can keep your blood glucose levels on target by • • •
making wise food choices being physically active taking medicines if needed
For people taking certain diabetes medicines, following a schedule for meals, snacks, and physical activity is best. However, some diabetes medicines allow for more flexibility. You’ll work with your health care team to create a diabetes plan that’s best for you.
And now the feet: People who have diabetes are vulnerable to nerve and vascular damage that can result in loss of protective sensation in the feet, poor circulation, and poor healing of foot ulcers. All of these conditions contribute to the high amputation rate in people with diabetes. The absence of nerve and vascular symptoms, however, does not mean that a patient’s feet are not at risk. Risk of ulceration cannot be assessed without careful examination of the patient’s bare feet. Good foot care, therefore, is an essential part of diabetes management. Please click below for a link to help you care for your feet better with Diabetes:
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