Tag: Bandage

Foot Complications of Diabetes

Whenever we think about people with diabetes, we often think of them as having problems with their feet. This is one of the most common complications of diabetes and diabetes, more than anyone, need to make certain that they address any problems with their feet early on as such problems can result in a life threatening condition.

Foot complications of diabetes are caused by neuropathy. Because the high glucose levels in the blood of a diabetic person affects the central nervous system after a period of time, it also affects nerves in various parts of your body. Most often effected are the nerves in the feet. The furthest from the brain, it is here where people with diabetes who have nerve damage, often do not feel cold or pain or even heat. People with diabetes that is uncontrolled often can injure their feet without feeling it. The injury may result in a blister or wound that will be slow to heal. The blister or wound becomes infected and the foot complications of diabetes begin.

In addition to not having the proper nerve sensations in their feet, people with diabetes often develop very dry feet because the nerves that secrete oil into the feet no longer work. Their feet may peel and crack, which only makes it even more probable for them to get sores and wounds in their feet.

Because high blood glucose levels make it difficult to stave off infection, a diabetic with a sore on their foot must be treated differently than a person without diabetes. The sore may be very slow to heal, if it heals at all. Infection often sets in. This can lead to gangrene and, in some cases, amputation.

Foot complications of diabetes work like this. A person who has diabetes and who has not been keeping their blood glucose level under control gets an injury on their toe. It begins to bleed and crack. Then bandage it, hoping it will heal. It does not heal and soon the wound becomes infected. They go to the doctor who begins to treat the wound with antibiotics. Sometimes this works, sometimes it does not.

When the wound does not heal and the infection begins to spread, gangrene can set in. Gangrene can kill a person, and the doctor knows this. So the person with diabetes has a choice, they can either lose their toe or their life. In most cases, they choose to lose the toe.

In some cases, however, the gangrene has already spread to the foot. Plus, the amputation risks more infection. In many cases, not only does the person lose their toe, but their entire foot. And this can continue until they lose their leg.

This information is not meant to frighten anyone with diabetes. It is only to make a person realize how vital it is for anyone with this condition to be aware of the feet complications of diabetes. No one has to lose a toe or a foot or a leg. They simply need to manage their disease so that they can retain a healthy blood glucose level that will enable them to fight off any infection that may arise from a bump on the foot and stave off neuropathy. By maintaining a healthy glucose level and avoiding glycemia, a person with diabetes can lead a full life. The trick is to follow the rules dictated by the condition.

Avoid foods that are high in starch and sugars. The Glycemic Index is an excellent tool that can inform a diabetic about which foods should be avoided. Maintain your weight and exercise regularly. This will also boost your immune system. Be sure to visit your doctor regularly and monitor your blood glucose level. Keep a record of the levels to present to your doctor so he or she can adjust your insulin or medication if needed. By complying with your physician, you an avoid many of the complications that accompany diabetes.

Diabetes does not have to be a killer. Glycemia is life threatening but can be controlled. If you or a loved one has this condition, see the doctor regularly and follow the plans to manage the disease.

Heres A Test To Fail

To diagnose an allergy, the first thing your doctor
does is talk with you. Hell discuss your symptoms,
any medications youre currently taking, and your
personal and family history. A physical examination is
also necessary.

The next step is the tests. There are 3 types of
tests. The skin test, patch test or blood test.

The skin test is the most common test used. Its
generally the most accurate and certainly the least
expensive. With the skin test, a small amount of an
allergen is put on your skin and then the spot is
pricked or scratched with a needle. You can also have
a little bit of the allergen injected into the outer
layer of your skin.

If you have an allergy to the substance that was used,
youll have swelling, redness and itching in the
tested spot within 20 minutes.

The patch test is used to diagnose contact dermatitis.
A small amount of allergen is put on your skin and
covered with a bandage. Your doctor will check the
spot in 48 hours to see if youve developed a rash.

The third type of test is the blood test. This may be
used if you have a skin condition or if youre taking
some type of medication that might interfere with a
skin test.

A blood sample is taken and sent to a laboratory.
There they add allergens to the sample and measure the
amount of antibodies that are produced to attack it.

Wet Wrap Therapy Can Be Used As Eczema Treatment

When ointments, creams and medications are not effective as forms of eczema treatment, perhaps it is time you consider wet wrap therapy. This kind of therapy is able to provide immense relief and at the same time moisturize the sooth and itchy skin. But what is wet wrap therapy?

Wet wrap therapy is all about wrapping wet bandages around the sore skin. It is a mixture of warm water and a special moisturizer and before you wrap yourself up, you have to soak yourself first in a bath with emollient oil so the skin will soon become moist. In cases when the eczema is severe, you can apply anti-itching cream first.

This type of therapy can be used on any part of the body including the face. To make it effective, the wet bandages should be wrapped over dry ones.

The advantage of wet wrap therapy is that it can rehydrate the damaged skin, make you sleep better, reduce the itching you feel and decrease the redness on your skin. This also prevents secondary infection because sometimes, you have the urge to scratch the affected area and without protection, you are sure to make things worse.

Such benefits have been proven in various studies. One study shows that 74% of children who underwent wet wrap therapy reduced their itching habits after just a week. Another study shows that children were able to sleep better because with the help of the moisturizer, they didnt feel the need to scratch.

The only negative thing about wet wrap therapy is the preparation time. Children are not able to sit still for a long period of time making it difficult for whoever is wrapping them with the bandage. Another challenge is adjusting to the sensation of a wet bandage around their body which is quite understandable given that this is not something we are not accustomed to. In the end, you get used to it.

Luckily, for those who are impatient, an alternative will be to moisten your pajamas or whatever clothing you are using. Keep in mind that the temperature in the room must not be too cold because you are already feel cold due to the wet bandages.

Unlike light therapy that is used to treat eczema, this type of treatment is only done for a week or two. During that time, you have to keep the skin hydrated throughout the day with the help of a moisturizer. To make sure that the treatment is effective, you also have to stay away from allergens or other irritants that may cause eczema flare-ups.

Wet wrap therapy is not only used for mild eczema but also for severe atopic dermatitis. In fact, the advantages of this form of therapy are the same. Although doctors recommend it, there are those who are skeptic because of certain risks such as increased cutaneous infections and folliculitis.

Wet wrap therapy is just one of the many forms of eczema treatment now available. If ointments, creams or medication dont work, ask your doctor about it. Just like the other treatments, this can be done at home with the help of a family member as long as they are properly taught how to wrap the bandage around you and take it off.

Relief for Knee Pain

Have you ever had a knee injury? Knee injuries are quite painful and people suffering from such a condition will immediately look for effective pain relief. Your knees are one of the most important body parts. If you encounter repetitive knee injuries or accidents, you should know about the various techniques to ease the pain.

When you encounter any injury or accident, you must attend to it at once. You can use this technique which is more popularly known as RICE. R stands for rest. You need to take a rest after youve cleaned the wound or injury. Place your legs in a relaxing position. I stands for ice. Put ice over your knees. C is for compression and it is important when you have a knee accident. E stands for elevation so dont forget to elevate them as well.

A lot of pressure is exerted on the knees so you need to ensure that when you have a knee accident, the pressure is removed. Rest is vital if you want to relieve pain. Dont even try to put your knees at work. Blood flow should be slowed down and you can do this by placing ice over the affected area. By doing so, you can reduce swelling. Get some bandage and put it over the injury. Dont make it too tight. The healing process is also promoted through elevation. Try elevating your knees and you will notice that there is less pain.

Repetitive injuries can cause progressive pain. You can get rid of the pain by taking pain relievers. Ointments and creams are also available without doctors prescription. Again, dont remove the bandages because it will help in stabilizing your knees. The discomfort is already part of the injury but you can still reduce it to moderate by taking medicines.

You will need immediate professional assistance once you meet a knee injury. Consult an orthopedic expert or a pharmacist so that you will know what to do. Dont take medicines without a doctors supervision because it might worsen your condition. The orthopedic physician can teach you effective exercises and methods that can ease the pain of the injury. It may take a while before you can exert pressure on your knees again but its worth the wait; if you put your knees at rest, complete healing can come sooner. Always follow the doctors instructions and if you need to take medicines, take them on time and at the right dosage.

You cant do your routine activities if have a knee injury so make sure that you recover from it as soon as possible. Thanks to the modern technology of today, there are now countless medicines (natural and conventional), techniques, and other procedures that can speed up healing.

Affected individuals should also be determined to get well. If you think positively and youre doing everything to get rid of the pain, you will gain positive results. Your brain tells you when youre in pain and to some individuals its all in the mind. While youre trying to recover from the injury, dont think too much about the pain because it will only get worse. Watch a movie, read a book, etc. but make sure that you maintain a resting position. If you dont exert pressure on your knees, your knees will be in shape once more.