Monsoon Increases the Risk of Foot Fungal Infections in Diabetic Patients. Here's How to Keep Safe.

healthy eating habits and a regimen of daily exercise. Lifestyle changes like eating the right food and staying active help keep your blood sugar level in check. But most importantly, your hygiene plays a key role in keeping you infection-free during the monsoon.

With so many diseases threatening your health, having the right health insurance also becomes essential. A suitable health insurance plan for diabetes can address your needs when you suffer from any ailment and require coverage.

Check out this article for simple health and well-being tips to keep yourself safe from foot fungal infections during the monsoon.

How Does Monsoon Cause Fungal Infections?

Fungal infections during the monsoon season are quite common. The humid and warm weather becomes the perfect incubator for bacteria and fungi growing on your skin, causing skin infections.

These fungi and bacteria can cause redness, soreness, and itching of your skin, and unless you take proper care of your feet, these infections can aggravate and become more serious.

Why Do Diabetics Require Preventive Foot Care?

Fungal infections can attack anyone but are worse for people with diabetes since they require more time to heal. If you have diabetes, you need to be very cautious about your personal hygiene and health, as any infections you develop may not heal quickly and easily.

Moreover, these infections can turn into ulcers if not treated promptly with the right care. These could cause serious complications, further leading to gangrene or amputation in the worst-case scenario.

Hence, people with diabetes must take extra care of their feet during the monsoon.

Tips to Avoid Foot Fungal Infections during Monsoon

Whether you have diabetes or not, taking proper care of your feet is a must. Below are some simple health tips that help prevent foot fungal infections during the monsoon.

Choose the Right Footwear

Most people wear rubber footwear during the monsoon since it dries easily. However, rubber footwear causes friction with your foot, resulting in skin peeling or erosion and bleeding in the affected area.

If you go out during the monsoon, these wounds could get exposed to dirty rainwater. It can prove extremely dangerous for people with diabetes since any wounds are an open invitation for infections.

Thus, wearing waterproof footwear which is closed and prevents water accumulation is the best choice. Ensure that your footwear has thick soles and a wide toe box. If you are wearing new footwear, do not wear it for longer durations in the beginning until your foot gets accustomed to it.

Let your feet adjust to the footwear as you slowly increase the duration.

Maintain Foot Hygiene

Maintaining foot hygiene is crucial no matter what season it is. However, during the monsoon, the space between your toes gathers moisture and can become a breeding ground for fungi.

To prevent moisture build-up due to sweat, wash your feet as soon as you come home and pat them dry, especially the areas between the toes.

Avoid applying direct heat to your feet like with hot water bags since that could cause blisters. Wearing socks is a better alternative to keep your feet warm.

Eat Healthy and Exercise

Making the right lifestyle choices is crucial when you have diabetes. Eat healthy food and exercise daily to stay fit. If your doctor has given you healthy lifestyle tips, you must follow them regularly.

As advised by your healthcare expert, go for a 30 to 45-minute walk and keep yourself active to stay healthy. That will also improve your immunity and make you less prone to diseases during the monsoon.

If stepping outdoors is not possible due to rains, taking a walk within the premises of your home or office would also suffice, as would any suitable place like your balcony and terrace.

Keep Your Toenails Clean

Foot care is not complete unless you clean your toenails every day. Dirt can get accumulated under your toenails, giving rise to bacterial and fungal infections. While cleaning your toenails, make sure not to use sharp objects since they can rupture your skin and cause open wounds.

Ensure you trim your nails and get rid of the dirt from the edges. You should also avoid cutting your toenails too close to the skin. Moreover, check your feet every day for any foul smells or injuries.

Summing Up

Monsoon is a crucial time for people with diabetes. You may suffer from fungal infections and many other types of diseases. Keeping yourself safe should always be your priority.

Along with maintaining good hygiene, having health insurance benefits could help you to a great extent. Niva Bupa has the perfect health insurance for diabetic patients.

Their plan covers your health check-up from day one along with hospital accommodation expenses. Emergency ambulance expenses, in-patient care while hospitalised, and pre/post hospitalization expenses are covered under their plans.

Keep yourself safe during the monsoon with hot food and the right insurance policy!