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Diabetes
Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.
There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 – where the pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin
Type 2 – where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin. This means that glucose stays in the blood and isn’t used as fuel for energy.
The high blood sugar level makes you:
• feel thirsty
• pass urine more than usual, particularly at night
• feel tired all the time
A growing problem
Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity and tends to be diagnosed in older people. It’s far more common than type 1 diabetes. It’s estimated that more than 1 in 16 people in the UK has diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed), and this figure is rising rapidly. There are currently 3.9 million people living with diabetes in the UK, with 90% of those affected having type 2 diabetes.
The danger of type 2 diabetes
Diabetes can cause serious long-term health problems. It’s the most common cause of vision loss and blindness in people of working age. Everyone with diabetes aged 12 or over should be invited to have their eyes screened once a year for diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetes is also responsible for most cases of kidney failure and lower limb amputation (other than accidents). People with diabetes are up to five times more likely to have cardiovascular disease (such as a stroke) than those without diabetes.
What you can do
If you’re at risk of type 2 diabetes, you may be able to prevent it developing by making lifestyle changes. You should:
• eat a healthy, balanced diet
• lose weight (if you’re overweight) and maintain a healthy weight
• stop smoking (if you smoke)
• drink alcohol in moderation
• take plenty of regular exercise
If you already have type 2 diabetes, it may be possible to control your symptoms by making the above changes. This will also minimise your risk of developing complications.
As type 2 diabetes usually gets worse, you may eventually need medication (usually tablets) to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.
If you have diabetes, you are at greater risk of developing problems with your feet, including foot ulcers and infections from minor cuts and grazes. This is because diabetes is associated with poor blood circulation in the feet, and blood glucose can damage the nerves.
To prevent problems with your feet, keep your nails short and wash your feet daily using warm water. Wear shoes that fit properly, and see a podiatrist or chiropodist (foot care specialist) regularly so that any problems can be detected early. Regularly check your feet for cuts, blisters or grazes because you may not be able to feel them if the nerves in your feet are damaged.
Sandpiper Suggestion: See your GP if you have a minor foot injury that doesn’t start to heal within a few days.
More next week...
Next time we will be looking at Bunions and their causes and treatments.
If this guide has inspired you to be kind to your feet and "discover real comfort" please take a look at the full range of comfort and wide fitting shoes on our website: www.sandpipershoes.com
Please follow Sandpiper Shoes on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LoveSandpiper
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Why You Need To Wear Comfortable Shoes
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Happy Feet Are Healthy Feet
It’s important that we look after our feet. After all, we spend most of our time on them. That being said, it’s easy to look after the rest of our body and forget about the limbs which carry us around all day. Indeed, our feet are likely to carry us the equivalent of 5 times around the earth in an average lifetime. Here at Sandpiper Shoes we know the value of caring for your feet, and the difference it can make to your long-term foot health and your happiness. That’s why we’ve put together a list of tips for keeping your feet happy and healthy! -
Footwear & Tips For Diabetics
As a diabetic, there are certain things you have to manage, including sore feet. Having uncomfortable feet is perhaps one of the least well-known and understood obstacles that those managing diabetes encounter. Whether insensitive to damage, prone to cuts and infection, or likely to swell, our feet are severely affected by diabetes. Trying to find a pair of shoes which accommodate and make these changes more bearable is difficult, and whilst some shoes like sandals may be fine during the warmer months, you also need a trusty pair of shoes to get you through the winter. -
How to choose the correct shoes
We expect a lot from our feet, and they provide us with the means to enjoy life to the full, yet we rarely give them the attention and care they need or deserve. In fact, our feet are likely to carry us the equivalent of 5 times around the earth in an average lifetime, and we spend nearly 100% of our waking lives wearing footwear, and even so, we often find ourselves wearing poorly fitted, unsuitable, or uncomfortable footwear. That is why at Sandpiper, we are obsessive in providing top quality care for feet. We can express our mission in just 5 simple words: Happy Customers with Comfortable Feet This guide is provided to show you what to look for when selecting footwear, how to keep your feet healthy, and how to enjoy life to the full, simply by understanding what footwear your feet need. -
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Sven Men's Elastane Slipper
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Ladies Extra Wide Bootee Slippers 4E-6E
Ladies Extra Wide Bootee Slippers VAL Val is the best looking bootee slipper you will find for swollen feet and is a consistently popular style with our customers. VERA For those who want something a little more exciting on their feet, Vera is a bright, great looking style where you won't have to sacrifice any comfort to look great. The wide opening and the supportive extra long touch fastening strap make this a really practical slipper, rated 5/5 by our customers on independent product review site Feefo. -
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Orthotics & Supports
Orthotics Orthotics and arch supports are regularly recommended by physiotherapists, podiatrists and orthotists for the relief of foot pain, heel pain, shin pain, knee pain and back pain. Often, a biomechanical mal-alignment or lack of stability from the foot region can cause abnormal loads on the tissues of the foot and heel, shin, knee or back pain can develop as... -
Corns and Calluses
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. The hands, feet and wrists are commonly affected, but it can also cause problems in other parts of the body. There may be periods where your symptoms become worse, known as a flare-up or flare. A flare can be difficult to predict, but with treatment it is possible to decrease the number of flares and minimise or prevent long-term damage to the joints. -
Bunions:Causes and Treatment
Bunions A bunion is a bony deformity of the joint at the base of the big toe. The medical name is hallux valgus. The main sign of a bunion is the big toe pointing towards the other toes on the same foot, which may force the foot bone attached to it (the first metatarsal) to stick outwards. -
Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 – where the pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin Type 2 – where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin. This means that glucose stays in the blood and isn’t used as fuel for energy. -
Sensitive Feet
As we all get older, our feet change shape, and often we lose some of the natural padding on the bottom of our feet, that is present in younger years. Foot pain should not be considered normal, and should be addressed by consulting a professional. -
Shoe Fitting Guide
Correctly fitting shoes, are essential to ensure comfort and support for your foot. Comfortable, properly supported feet, will allow you to live a more active lifestyle, leading to better health and fitness all round. We have put together some points for you to consider when buying shoes. -
Swollen Feet and Ankles
Swollen feet and ankles are usually as a result of Oedema. This is the medical term for fluid retention in the body. The build-up of fluid causes affected tissue to become swollen. The swelling can occur in one particular part of the body – for example, as the result of an injury – or it can be more general. -
Keeping Feet Healthy
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New Stockist in South Wales
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Extra Wide Comfort Shoes, Slippers, Socks and Hosiery in Cwmbran South Wales Solar Medical has been working hard within the Medical, Janitorial and Care Industries to build a reputation as a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of products and services throughout Wales and the UK. Our years of experience, close relationships with the leading industry brands and on-site manufacturing facilities... -
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Who we areOur website address is: http://13.234.30.191/sps_design/wp.What personal data we collect and why we collect itCommentsWhen visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided...
