As a diabetic, the same saying goes for your feet! Fail to take your blood sugar levels seriously and sooner (rather than later) you're going to have foot problems that could easily lead to amputation.

Diabetic foot neuropathy occurs when you are diabetic and you ignore your high blood sugar levels, resulting in blood vessel and nerve damage within your body.

• First, you may develop burning pain or numbness in your feet from inadequate blood flow.
• Soon, a simple cut or blister could become infected because you didn't even know you had a slight injury.
• Next, that minor injury snowballs, and before you know it your life is reduced to a wheelchair because you've lost your foot!
• From that point, lack of exercise makes matters worse and your general health quickly declines.

You know where this is headed, don't you? Yes, failure to maintain a safe blood sugar level can become life-threatening surprisingly fast.

Here are some foot tips for diabetics and home remedies that will help you avoid the serious effects of diabetes...

They say that when you're diabetic, the 3 areas of the body that get affected the most are:

• feet
• eyes
• kidneys

The reason? Those are the parts of your body with the smallest blood vessels.

How To Avoid Diabetic Foot Problems

If you're diabetic, then you want to do this now to avoid serious problems later:

1. Wash and dry your feet daily.
Use warm water and mild soaps. Rinse well and pat dry (rather than rubbing your feet dry with a towel). Remember, the point is to not irritate the skin. Apply lotion to retain moisture in your feet, but don't use lotion between the toes! The area between your toes needs to dry completely, since moisture allows bacteria to grow which can lead to Athletes Foot infections.

2. Inspect your feet daily. 
Examine your feet looking for sores, cuts, abrasions. Also look for swelling, blisters, or cracks between the toes. Inspect the soles of your feet too. One of the signs of diabetes is loss of feeling in the feet. This means you could step on a sharp object that penetrates your foot and not even know it! If getting up close and personal with your feet is physically impossible, then have your spouse (or even a neighbor) check them for you as often as possible.

3. Trim your toenails & care for foot sores properly.
Keeping your toenails trimmed neatly and straight across will help avoid ingrown toenails or cuts from one toe rubbing against another. Never use commercially available corn preparations. They can damage skin, and any open sore is likely to become infected and spread. When you have diabetes, foot ulcers can be very slow or impossible to heal.

4. Wear shoes that fit properly.
Avoid the bare foot or flip flop look. When you are susceptible to diabetes, you need to look at footwear as a protective shield against injury. Your feet need to be comfortable with adequate room for your toes. Poor-fitting footwear can cause blisters and abrasions quickly -- which won't heal properly if you're diabetic.

5. See your doctor regularly. 
Stay current with your Hemoglobin A1c test (also known as HA1C blood tests). Follow your doctor's instructions concerning the frequency of blood test strip checks. Monitor your blood sugar religiously. The better you control your blood sugar levels now, the better your odds of avoiding traumatic foot problems later on.

When I was first diagnosed with Type II Diabetes about 7 years ago, keeping my blood sugar in check was a simple matter of taking one pill a day. I was still able to eat whatever I wanted. But over time, diabetes changes within your system. Now, my prescription has increased to double that amount, and I take it twice a day. Plus, I have to take a second medication to control my diabetes as well.

The point is don't assume things are and will continue to be just fine. Keeping diabetes under control will be an ongoing challenge for the rest of your life. Maintaining mobility is much easier with 2 good feet. It's in your best interest to take care of them... daily!

More About Diabetes And Your Feet

• Slideshow: How Diabetes Affects Your Feet
• Characteristics Of The Diabetic Foot
• Diabetic Foot Care
• Foot Complications When You Have Diabetes
• Ways That Diabetes Affects Your Feet
  
• Diabetic Foot Care - An Interactive Tutorial

Welcome to the world of Onychomycosis. Toenail fungus is a common condition afflicting up to 50% of the over-40 population.

Fungus loves warm, moist feet that are trapped all day in hot shoes -- preventing evaporation and giving all those mold spores an excellent environment to grow. There's something to be said for being barefoot in the summer.

Thankfully, there's a new treatment option available for those with toenail fungus.

Here's what you need to know to make an educated decision as to whether the laser toenail fungus treatment is best for you or not...

Beyond being unattractive, affected nails can cause shoes to be uncomfortable and make walking difficult.

Irritation can lead to infections and in the case of diabetics, a toenail fungus could complicate their condition even further.

Toenail Fungus Treatment

There are a variety of treatments for toenail fungus. Most have a questionable success rate.

For example, creams and gels are about 8% effective.

Lamasil is about 50% effective, but regular blood tests are required to make sure liver damage doesn't occur.

But now there is a new treatment -- an alternative to lengthy attempts to cure this difficult condition. Laser treatment for toenail fungus only requires one trip to the specialist for treatment. It's a simple 30-minute procedure that is painless, has no side affects, and is now available. It's success rate is up to 88%!

This ABC News article and video on laser treatment for toenail fungus tells the whole story.

How It Works

The laser is set to penetrate to the level where the fungus lives and kills it instantly.

Of course, the process will still take many months since new nail growth is a slow process.

The benefit health wise is you're not permeating your body with powerful drugs over a 3-month period. Drugs that could cause permanent liver damage.

The cost for laser treatment for a toenail fungus can be expensive. Your one-time visit to the doctor will run in the neighborhood of $1,200. In most cases, health insurance companies look upon the procedure as purely aesthetic. Therefore, most will not cover the cost of the treatment.

If you do opt for laser treatment for your toenail fungus, keep in mind that curing the fungus doesn't mean that you will never be afflicted by the problem again. If your feet continue to live in the same environment (moist, warm, prime mold-growing conditions), or if your daily foot hygiene isn't the best, then the likelihood of a recurrence is almost guaranteed.

Watch this video of a laser toenail fungus treatment to see what's involved. Then you can make an educated decision on whether this is the treatment for you.

The best way I've found to control this type of foot pain is to wear shoes that give very good support to both the arches and ankles.

Z-Coil shoes claim to be shock absorbers for the body, reducing the impact created when the weight of your whole body comes down on a very small structure: the heel of your foot.

Another problem I have with standard shoes is I wear off the heel on the outside edge. This may be due to arthritis or other changes over the years, because it has become more noticeable the older I get.

Z-Coil shoes not only are professionally adjusted to your specific foot and walking pattern, they also have replaceable heel pads. For a modest cost, your local Z-Coil dealer can replace your worn heel pad and readjust its positioning when you walk in order to maintain that relief from pain that you noticed the very first time you walked in your Z-Coil shoes.

This is specialized footwear that is only available at authorized stores.

You could find yourself traveling a few hundred miles to find the nearest location. But it's worth it!

Reviews of Z-Coil Shoes & Others

Public acceptance of these shoes is varied. They definitely don't look like most shoes that you've seen (or worn) before!

Speaking as one who must contend with foot pain for months at a time, the cost of about $200 combined with the superhero look of the coil spring isn't quite enough to completely remove the Z-Coil shoes as an option for me. Others would disagree. Some think Z-Coil shoes look like a 6th grade science fair project!

Of course there are other options when it comes to shoes designed to alleviate foot pain. For considerably less money (about half) and with a more traditional style, Gravity Defyer shoes offer the same benefits as the Z-Coil shoes. Being able to walk down the street without people gawking at your feet does have some merit.

Here's a comparison of Z-Coil shoes vs Gravity Defyer shoes.

Another option is the Masai Barefoot Trainer (aka "the anti-shoe"). The claims are that the MBT improves posture -- which in itself may reduce back, hip, leg and foot pain. However, this footwear admits to being unstable. The whole point of the MBT shoe is the curved sole, which activates numerous muscles strengthening the body. It's an interesting approach, though one that should be examined cautiously.

Of the 3 examples listed here, the Z-Coil name has the largest presence on the Internet. Overall comments about customer satisfaction appear to be overwhelmingly positive. Good Housekeeping apparently thinks otherwise. Although rebuttals to that negative magazine article are also quite prevalent.

Research Your Options

My one word of caution would be the fact that the wide-based heel with a narrow support could catch on things creating a tripping situation.

When it comes to foot pain relief, some people tend to take a desperation approach and buy the first thing that sounds good. Instead, it's important to explore a variety of options whenever possible. Making the best choice depends on a number of factors. No one product is the perfect answer for every situation and every person. Shop carefully and listen to the advice of your podiatrist before making your own decision as to the best way to address your foot pain.

RELATED:

• Z-Coil Shoes Fight Plantar Fasciitis
   
• How Z-Coil Shoes Help To Alleviate Pain
   
• A Mom's Review of Z-Coil Shoes

The slogan for Havaianas is "The Real Ones," suggesting that all other flip flops are a knock off. It is very possible, since they have been around since 1962.

Havaianas are a bit more expensive than your average flip flops -- which are generally less than $5 a pair. On the other hand, Havaianas typically sell for between $15 to $30 a pair.

Check out this video: "You can't wear just any flip flops... it's all about the Havaianas!"

Havaianas were inspired by Japanese Zori sandals that are made of fabric straps and rice straw soles. You will notice the textured rice pattern on the soles as a main feature of these flip flops.

See how to make your wwn Zori sandals.

So, how are Havaianas different from other flip flops? Well, Havaianas began to distinguish themselves from knock-offs as early as 1970 when they launched a commercial stating that "they don't lose their shape, they don't smell, and the straps don't get loose", unlike other flip flops.

Since the 1990's Havaianas have been the height of flip flop fashion and are frequently featured in fashion magazines whenever new prints, colors and models are added to the lineup.

Would you believe they even have a line of Havaianas for babies? Under a special partnership with jeweler, H. Stern, there was once a line of Havaianas that featured a gold finish embedded with diamonds

My personal favorite is the sleek Havaianas FIT line that adds a back ankle strap to the flip flop, for a more dressed up look and a bit of added support.

Havaianas Reviews

Having never actually worn a pair of Havaianas (not for the lack of coveting them) I looked to the Internet to see what others are saying about this unique line of footwear.

Here are some reviews of Havaianas:

• Havaianas vs Spartan Flip Flops
   
• Plus Size Review: Why Havaianas Are Good For Larger Feet
   
• Customer Reviews of Havaianas on Amazon
   
• Old Navy Rubber Flip Flops vs Havaianas

See where Havaianas are made with a look inside the factory in Brazil:

Where To Buy Havaianas

• The Gap (basic models)
   
• Amazon (large selection)
   
• Zappos (free shipping both ways)
   
• Piperlime (free shipping, free returns)
   
• Havaianas Official Website (full product lines)

The claim is that these foot pads will detox the body through the soles of your feet.

Even the well-known cosmetic company, Avon, has jumped on the bandwagon promoting their Healthy Remedies Revitalizing Patches.

The patches are a similar version of foot detox pads which seem to be growing in popularity these days.

By using the detox foot pads, it is assumed the heavy metals and assorted nasty toxins being held captive in your body will drain out through 60 acupuncture points located on the bottom of your feet.

Surprisingly, results are guaranteed overnight.

When you remove the foot detox pads the next morning, you will see a dark, smelly collection of material deposited onto the detox pads. 

As your body rids itself of unwanted elements (after several uses of the detox foot pads), it is assumed that the stain on the detox pads will lighten -- indicating success.

Detox Foot Pad Reviews

So, inquiring minds want to know, is there really any healthful benefit to these detox foot pads?  Or are they just another scam -- separating thousands of people from a sizable chunk of their money?

This video shows a 20/20 investigation Kinoki Detox Foot Pads:

According to the video, the overall consensus was that most people felt there was no change or improvement in their general well-being.  In fact, it was decided that what some people felt, could be explained as a placebo affect.  It's well documented, if you want a product to work badly enough, your brain may allow it to do just that!

Results after using the detox foot pads seem to be varied.  Consumers have rated the Kinoki Foot Detox Pads anywhere from 1 to 5 stars -- with an overall score of 2.5 stars.  Some even acknowledge that it may just be a placebo affect, but they're still satisfied because it appeared to work for them.

Here are more reviews of the Kinoki Detox Foot Pads:

• Kinoki Reviews: This Product Might Be A Scam 

• Kinoki Detox Foot Pads: A Scambuster Report

• Kinoki Foot Pads Review: What You Should Know

Will The Detox Foot Pads Work For You?

If seeing an unsightly brownish stain on the detox foot pad the next morning is all it takes to satisfy the average user, then you can be assured that you will get the desired results.

A little moisture (like sweat, or even clean distilled water) is all it takes to cause the chemical reaction that creates the brown stain on the foot detox pad.

Overall, there is overwhelming evidence that investing in detox foot pads or patches -- no matter what brand or where they came from -- will at least lighten your wallet by a measurable amount.

When it comes to the other claims, you'll have to use your own judgment.  They appear to work for some, but not for others. Be sure to let us know if you've tried them!