How to Choose a Diabetic Foot Cream

Managing diabetes involves many things and taking good care of your feet is among them. Diabetic foot complications result from having too much glucose in your blood for a long time, which can damage nerves and affects blood flow. Foot complications affect more than 20 percent of people treated for diabetes.[1]

Neuropathy or nerve damage is the most common chronic complication affecting diabetes and feet, with an estimated lifetime prevalence exceeding 50 percent in people with diabetes. Among various forms of neuropathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) affecting the feet, legs, hand, and/or arms is the most common. [2] Factors leading to nerve damage in diabetic feet include:

·         Blood sugar levels that are hard to manage

·         Having diabetes for a long time, especially if your blood sugar is often higher than your target levels

·         Being overweight

·         Being older than 40 years

·         Having high blood pressure

·         Having high cholesterol

Diabetic foot neuropathy also can cause numbness so that you might not feel a foot injury, cut or even a blister that could result in a diabetic foot ulcer.  Infected foot ulcers can lead to hospitalization and even leg amputation.  Poor blood flow also contributes to the potential for a diabetic foot ulcer.

Other diabetic foot problems

·         Calluses: Calluses on diabetic feet are common because of high-pressure areas under the foot. If not trimmed, calluses can get thick, break down and turn into ulcers.[3]

·         Charcot foot: Nerve damage can trigger a rare condition called Charcot foot.  It is an inflammatory process that affects soft tissues, bones and joints in the foot or ankle causing foot damage or deformity.

·         Peripheral artery disease: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a complication of diabetes. It reduces blood flow to the feet and can further delay healing of wounds as well as increase your risk of foot infection.[4]

Prevent dry skin from affecting diabetic feet

Diabetes can cause your skin to become very dry. High blood glucose levels may cause greater loss of fluid from the body leading to dry skin on the legs, elbows, feet, and other areas. In fact, dry skin may be the first sign someone has diabetes. Severely dry skin can cause skin crack open and bleed. Open sores or wounds resulting from these cracks provide an entry for germs, which can cause infections.

Check your feet daily for problems:

·         Dry and cracked skin

·         Blisters or sores

·         Bruises or cuts

·         Redness, warmth, or tenderness (often absent because of nerve damage)

·         Firm or hard spots

Role of diabetes foot cream

The use of specialized foot creams for diabetes is an important part of maintaining healthy feet. Diabetes foot creams can significantly help in preventing and managing diabetic foot problems. The right diabetes foot cream can help moisturize and protect sensitive skin, prevent infections, and restore skin resilience.

But with so many choices of diabetes foot creams on the market, it can be difficult to know what cream will live up to its brand promise and meet your needs and. Different creams have different formulations, some of which may provide long-lasting relief while others may only provide relief for a short time.

Criteria to choose diabetes foot cream

When looking at all the diabetes foot cream options, consider the following characteristics of a product:

Moisturization: In evaluating creams, understand that there is a difference between superficial and deep hydration. Some diabetic foot creams only deliver surface moisture, which results in temporary not long-term relief. However, products that provide deep penetration with ingredients such as shea butter and glycerin offer protection against cracking, flaking and slow healing. The goal of diabetes foot cream is to maintain the skin barrier and enable skin to withstand challenges, maintain balance and repair itself quickly, healing minor injuries before they become serious problems.

Also, for deep hydration, some creams contain humectants, which attract moisture from the environment and bind it to the surface of the skin. A humectant such as Lecithin with its phospholipid content mimics natural skin lipids, can help reinforce the skin’s barrier function.

Rapid absorptions: Also look for diabetic foot creams that provide fast absorption so you are not left with a greasy texture on your skin. Products that absorb quickly and are effective under a range of conditions provide uninterrupted protection throughout the day. [5]

Non-Irritating formula: Look for creams that are free from fragrances, dyes, and harsh chemicals, which can irritate skin.

Skin barrier support: Certain ingredients, such as Zinc, enhance the skin’s protective barrier to reduce the risk of infections and irritations and prevent moisture loss.  

As you evaluate products, carefully check labels and research products online to ensure they offer ingredients and feature the characteristics that meet your diabetes feet management needs.

EASE-Z Diabetics’ Dry Skin Therapy Foot Cream

Among today’s offerings of diabetes foot cream is EASE-Z Diabetics’ Dry Skin Therapy Foot Cream. It is an over the counter (OTC) offering that uniquely features active Zinc Acetate to relieve and protect dry, cracked skin associated with diabetes. EASE-Z Diabetics’ Dry Skin Therapy Foot Cream covers feet with a thick protective layer that penetrates to provide real, long lasting-relief. It is unscented and non-greasy for added comfort. Daily use gives superior recovery and continuous relief, assuring long-lasting comfort. Learn more