For people with type 2 diabetes, blood glucose control, a balanced diet, weight management, regular exercise, and regular checkups are essential. It is also important to take systemic care to avoid serious complications.
The following are some of the most serious problems that can occur in people with diabetes:
- Foot infections
- Chronic skin infections
- Gum disease and tooth loss
- Sight problems
- Heart disease and blood circulation problems
Diabetes body care: for all patients
It’s not just adults who need physical care; with the childhood obesity epidemic, type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in children, adolescents, and young adults.
Philip Orlander, MD, chair of the department of endocrinology at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, says, “In our clinical work, we’re finding more and more patients who start in their 20s or 30s, who have difficulty controlling their blood sugar, and who have severe skin infections from boils or insect bites. ”
Why does diabetes cause so much damage to the body? When blood sugar gets out of control, damage is done to blood vessels and the nervous system, and the body’s ability to fight off germ infections is then reduced.
Control of blood sugar is the most basic requirement to prevent these problems, and some simple personal daily care can greatly reduce the risk of complications.
5 steps for whole-body diabetes care
For people with diabetes, the feet, skin, eyes, heart, teeth, and gums are all areas that need special attention. Here are the steps for daily care of each body part for people with diabetes:
Foot care and diabetes
Common foot problems can lead to many complications, including tinea pedis, toenail fungal infections, calluses, corns, blisters, bunions, dry skin, ulcers, mallet toes, ingrown toenails, plantar warts, and more.
While these symptoms can occur in everyone, they are more frightening when they occur in people with diabetes because:
- Nerve damage in people with diabetes can cause patients to not feel small wounds, which may delay treatment.
- Poor blood circulation affects wound healing.
- If the patient’s immune function is suppressed, he or she will be more likely to develop an infection.
- Damage to the foot muscles can lead to uneven pressure in the foot and pain and ulcers may develop in the heavily loaded areas.
Prevention advice: Take time for daily foot care. Wash and dry your feet, then check the back and palms of your feet. Look for cracks, cuts, scratches, breaks, blisters, congestion, calluses and other changes in the skin. If any of these problems are found, apply an antibiotic ointment recommended by your doctor and protect the wound by wrapping it in sterile gauze. To prevent ingrown toenails, take care not to make the clipped toenails with tips when cutting them. Do not walk barefoot and take care to protect the foot. Remember to choose appropriate shoes.
Even if a foot problem is minor, it should not be taken lightly and should be treated immediately or seen by a doctor. See your podiatrist every 2 to 3 months.
Checking the feet daily can help identify small problems early and treat them before they become serious. Patients can get into the habit of checking their feet every morning, which takes very little time.
Skin care and diabetes
Bacterial infections, fungal infections, and itching are common skin problems that generally don’t require much attention, but things are different for people with diabetes, which can sometimes be very problematic because of poor circulation and the body’s ability to fight infection. To avoid extremely serious complications, it is important to be aware of the following:
- Bacterial infections, such as boils (hair follicle infections) should be treated with antibiotics.
- Fungal infections, including yeast-like (e.g., Candida albicans, etc.) infections, which often occur in the warmer, moister skin folds: under the breasts, next to the nails, between the fingers and toes, in the armpits, and in the groin.
- Tinea cruris (between the genitals and thighs), tinea pedis (between the toes), tinea monnieri (commonly on the feet, groin, chest, abdomen, scalp, and nails), and vaginal infections are all very common when blood sugar is out of control. Sometimes over-the-counter treatments work, but if they don’t, seek immediate medical attention.
- There is a fungal infection called trichomycosis (infection from mold or decaying plants in the soil) that is very dangerous, especially for people with type 2 diabetes. This disease can lead to sinus infections, which can then spread to the lungs and brain. Symptoms include sinus inflammation, fever, eye swelling, skin congestion in the sinus area, and sometimes ulcers with oozing, which should be seen as soon as they are detected, or they can be life-threatening.
- Itching, which can occur in diabetics due to dry skin, fungal infections, or poor circulation (especially in the legs), can be helped by the use of lotions or creams.
- Poor circulation and body resistance to insulin can also lead to other skin problems.
- Rashes, bumps, and blisters are also common; some require treatment and some do not. Patients should be able to distinguish between these conditions and seek treatment when needed.
- For example, rash skin xanthoma is a skin condition caused by high levels of cholesterol and fat in the blood. It often appears on the back of the arms, legs, and buttocks as a yellow, waxy, immobile, pea-sized mass surrounded by a red, itchy halo. It can be treated with medications to control blood lipids and blood sugar.
Prevention recommendations: Control blood glucose to enhance the body’s resistance to infection and prevent dry skin. If necessary, use talcum powder, moisturizer and soap on susceptible areas. Be careful not to apply moisturizer between the toes; high humidity can induce fungal growth.
Remember, if skin problems, especially foot problems and fungal infections, persist for a long time, you should seek prompt medical attention. Problems in these areas can become extremely serious and therefore require prescription medication.
Eye care and diabetes
Diabetes can damage blood vessels in the eye and lead to a variety of eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy, although these can be prevented.
When cataracts are a complication in people with diabetes, the lens is cloudy and vision can be blurred. Although non-diabetics can get cataracts, diabetics tend to develop them early and progress more quickly.
The essence of glaucoma is increased pressure in the eye due to impaired atrial circulation. The excessive pressure damages the nerves and blood vessels in the eye, which in turn leads to impaired vision.
Retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the eye and can lead to blindness if not diagnosed and treated in time.
Prevention advice: The key to preventing the worsening of these complications is to control blood glucose levels and visit your eye doctor once a year.
Teeth and gum care
Most people will have gum problems to varying degrees throughout their lives, but gum disease tends to be more severe and to develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes.
The reason is that diabetes reduces the body’s ability to fight bacteria and infection. High blood sugar levels can worsen gum disease, leading to bleeding, loose gums, and separation of the gums from the teeth. Sometimes patients will need gum surgery to protect their gums.
Other oral problems that are at risk include:
- Infection of the gums
- Poor healing after gum treatment
- Dry mouth
- Burning sensation in the mouth and tongue
Prevention recommendations: Brush your teeth after every meal, floss daily, and have two dental exams per year. Be sure to tell your dentist that you have diabetes and bring a list of medications you take with you when you visit your dentist.
Tell your dentist about oral infections or difficulty controlling your blood sugar, and be sure to keep your blood sugar at a reasonable level before undergoing any routine dental treatment. If preparing for a dental procedure, the dentist needs to consult with the patient’s diabetologist about their medications and the need for antibiotics.
Caring for heart health in people with diabetes
Heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke are all serious problems that can occur in people with diabetes, although they are also preventable.
The buildup of cholesterol in the walls of blood vessels (atherosclerosis) is the most common cause of heart disease and stroke. This destructive process is exacerbated when blood glucose levels are higher than normal, which can lead to reduced blood supply to the heart and brain, increasing the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. The heart’s ability to pump blood can also be diminished, leading to heart failure.
Prevention advice: Follow your doctor’s advice to control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
For people with diabetes, it is best to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels to below average levels, and to do this, it is important to take the medications prescribed by your doctor. If you are overweight, you should also lose weight, exercise regularly, and eat a low-fat, low-salt, heart-healthy diet. Patients who smoke need to stop smoking and consult with their doctor about whether they should take aspirin daily.
The final point to keep in mind is to make sure that people with diabetes receive good medical care. Philip said, “If a patient is trying to change their lifestyle, their diet, and take their medications as prescribed, but their blood sugar control is still not optimal, then they need to get a new doctor.”