Starting last month and going all through July, brave souls have been finding their sense of balance on Lake Lemon through stand-up paddle board class. It takes commitment to learn how to find your feet on a floating board, just as it takes commitment to check your feet daily or signs of trouble—especially if you live with diabetes. Diabetic self-exams are an important part of maintaining good health, so here is some advice on making the most of your inspections.
Folding a diabetic self-exam into your daily routine is the best way to ensure you don’t start neglecting your duties. Maybe before or after a shower is the right time for you, or before slipping into bed. The more convenient for you, the better.
When checking your feet, be sure to examine everywhere; that includes the tops and bottoms of the feet as well as between the toes. Injuries and problems can pop up just about any time, and you might not be able to feel them when they happen, so it’s important to be thorough. Use a mirror if you can’t view all areas of your feet on your own, or ask for help in looking. Check for any of the following symptoms:
The more you inspect, the more you’ll be able to tell if something’s wrong. If you discover any of the above, and especially breaks in the skin that don’t heal after a couple days or signs of infection, contact Dr. Kevin Powers right away. Having problems professionally examined and treated early can help prevent them from developing into worse problems that can affect your mobility or even, in severe cases, turn life-threatening. Call our Bloomington, IN office at (812) 333-4422 to schedule an appointment.
