Accu-Chek®

Text size Decrease text size Increase text size

English

WelcomeLogin | Register

Sign in here.

Forgot your password?

Cancel

For Healthcare Professionals

An easy access environment offering a range of educational materials for the healthcare professional with information on various subjects in diabetes management.

Accu-Chek Assist

Share this page Email This Page Print this page

Close X

Email This Page

All fields must be filled in

Advice: To send to multiple e-mail addresses, separate email addresses with a comma

Cancel

Managing Diabetes Complications

As you may already know, controlling your blood glucose is important for avoiding hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).

By keeping your blood glucose in your target range, you may delay or prevent long-term complications. Hyperglycemia can damage many parts of your body, including your eyes, heart, kidneys and feet. The good news is that you, with support from members of your healthcare team, may be able to lessen or even prevent the impact of diabetes complications.

The pages in this section list some of the more common diabetes-related complications, their symptoms and treatments, and some steps your healthcare team may recommend to help reduce your risk.

Foot Problems

Proper footcare is an important part of a person with diabetes’ daily routine. High blood glucose levels can damage the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the legs and feet. This can lead to nerve damage, poor circulation, infections and foot deformities.

Diabetes is often associated with foot problems and amputation. Not including those caused by accidents or trauma, more than 60% of lower-limb amputations performed each year are on people with diabetes. 1

What to Look For

The Canadian Diabetes Association recommends that your feet be examined at least once a year—more often if you have foot problems.2 If you experience any of the following symptoms, see your healthcare professional:3

  • Less pain or less sensitivity in the leg or foot
  • Cuts or breaks in the skin
  • Ingrown nails
  • Changes in the shape of your foot
  • Corns or calluses

Healthy Diabetic Footcare Habits

By keeping your blood glucose within the range recommended by your healthcare professional and paying special attention to your feet every day, you may be able to prevent long-term complications. For healthy toes and feet, follow these simple steps:4

  • Check your feet regularly
  • Wear comfortable shoes that fit, are supportive and have low heels
  • Exercise your feet regularly to improve circulation
  • Wash your feet daily with soap and lukewarm water
  • Trim your toenails straight across and not too short

1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National diabetes fact sheet, 2007. Available at:http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2007.pdf. Accessed November 11, 2008.
2 Canadian Diabetes Association. Footcare: A step toward good health. Available at: http://www.diabetes.ca/about-diabetes/living/complications/foot-care/. Accessed March 27, 2009.
3National Institute of Diabetes and digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prevent diabetes problems: keep your feet and skin healthy." Available at:http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_feet. Accessed February 20, 2008.
4 MedlinePlus. Foot health. Available at:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foothealth.html. Accessed February 20, 2008.

 

Back to Top


Hypoglycemia and Exercise
Physical activity or exercising for a prolonged period can lower blood glucose, but there are several measures you can take to treat it.

Learn more »

iconsDiabetes Nurse Educators on call

nurseExclusively for users
of Accu-Chek products.
1-800-363-7949
Monday to Friday
8 am to 5 pm (ET)
Click 4 Cash in 2012 Click 4 Cash in 2012 Contest
You could win $1,000 in our monthly draw or even $5,000 in our Grand Prize draw!
Enter now »

 

Circle+ offers a range of benefits for insulin users.
Enjoy up to $7 in patient assistance on every box of Accu-Chek strips or cassettes.
Accu-Chek Smart Pix
The easy to use device reader that transfers data from your meter to your PC using infrared technology.

This website contains information on products which is targeted to a wide range of audiences and could contain product details or information otherwise not accessible or valid in your country. Please be aware that we do not take any responsibility for accessing such information which may not comply with any valid legal process, regulation, registration or usage in the country of your origin.