Discover some helpful tips for keeping your feet healthy.
As anyone with diabetes knows, it is vitally important to keep blood sugar levels in check. High blood sugar levels that are left untreated 
can lead to issues with circulation and nerve damage, which greatly impact your feet. Our Vineland, NJ, podiatrist Dr. Belancio believes nothing is more important than knowing how to keep your diabetes in check to protect the health of your feet. Here’s what you need to do to stay healthy,
Eat a Healthy, Balanced Diet
It’s important that you are eating three meals around the same time each day so that your body is able to effectively use the insulin it is receiving from your diabetes medication. Talk to your doctor about the best diet plan for you. A healthy diet includes:
- Lean proteins (eating fish twice a week can benefit your heart health)
- Low-fat dairy
- Fruits and vegetables
- Legumes, beans and other healthy carbs
- “Good” fats such as olive oil, peanuts and avocados
Stay away from foods that are high in cholesterol, and saturated and trans fats.
Get Up and Exercise
If you have type 2 diabetes, regular exercise can help you maintain healthy glucose levels. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you have to sign up for the gym to benefit from exercise. Exercise comes in many forms, from simple 30-minute walks around your neighborhood to swimming. Talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise regimen.
Examine Your Feet Every Day
This is something that your Vineland, NJ, foot doctor cannot stress the importance of enough. It only takes a couple of minutes to check your feet to look for symptoms or warning signs of a problem. It’s amazing how quickly a cut, sore, blister or callus can turn into an infection. By discovering these symptoms early you can turn to your podiatrist for care before it gets worse.
Never Go Barefoot
Even if you are indoors you should always wear shoes to protect your feet. Even something as minor as hitting your toe can lead to an ulcer. Those with nerve damage in their feet may not even know if they are walking on hot pavement that could cause burns. This is why it’s important to wear the properly fitted footwear at all times.
Here at South Jersey Foot and Ankle Specialists in Vineland, NJ, we pride ourselves on offering the very best foot care no matter whether you are dealing with diabetes or not. Call our office today to learn more about the services we offer and how we can help you.