Monday, March 13, 2017

How to of the Day

How to of the Day


How to Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent

Posted: 13 Mar 2017 05:00 PM PDT

uTorrent displays sponsored advertisements in the free version of its torrent application. These ads help keep uTorrent free, but can bog down slower computers. While you may know that you can pay to upgrade uTorrent to an ad-free version, you may not realize that ads can easily be disabled in your preferences. Learn how to disable ads in uTorrent by adjusting some settings, as well as how to upgrade to the uTorrent Ad-Free.

EditSteps

EditDisabling Ads in uTorrent Preferences

  1. Open the uTorrent application. While the free version of uTorrent displays ads by default, you can disable these ads in the Preferences menu.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 1 Version 2.jpg
  2. Click "Options" and then select "Preferences" from the menu bar.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 2 Version 2.jpg
  3. Select "Advanced" from the list on the left side of the Preferences window. "Advanced" is at the bottom of the list.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 3 Version 2.jpg
  4. Click to highlight gui.show_plus_upsell in the long list of Advanced Options. You can find this option in one of two ways:
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 4 Version 2.jpg
    • Type gui.show_plus_upsell into the Filter box and select it from the search results.[2]
    • Scroll down the list until you find it. The list is in alphabetical order, so it shouldn't be too difficult.
  5. Select "False" beneath the Advanced Options box. When you clicked "gui.show_plus_upsell", two radio buttons labeled with "True" and "False" appeared beneath the Advanced Options box. Clicking the button next to "False" will disable the ad at the bottom left corner of uTorrent.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 5 Version 2.jpg
  6. Click to highlight offers.sponsored_torrent_offer_enabled in the Advanced Options list, then click "False." Just like the previous option, scroll down until you find it or use the Filter box. Switching this option to false disables the banner ad at the top of the torrent list.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 6 Version 2.jpg
  7. Set additional Advanced Options to "False." Now you will need to locate and select all of the options listed below and set their values to "False." Some may already be set to False, but check to be sure.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 7.jpg
    • offers.left_rail_offer_enabled
    • offers.sponsored_torrent_offer_enabled
    • gui.show_notorrents_node
    • offers.content_offer_autoexec
    • bt.enable_pulse
  8. Click "OK" to save your changes.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 8 Version 2.jpg
    • Note that if you did not find one (or more) of the above options in Advanced Options, don't panic—uTorrent sometimes changes the names of these options. Return to the Advanced Options screen and type "offer" into the "Filter" box. Now, change all of those currently set to "True" to "False".[3]
  9. Click "File" and then "Exit" to close uTorrent. To make sure all of your changes take effect, restart uTorrent.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 9 Version 2.jpg
  10. Open uTorrent and enjoy your ad-free experience.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 10.jpg

EditUpgrading to uTorrent Ad-Free

  1. Open the uTorrent application. uTorrent displays sponsored advertisements so that it can provide a free application without losing money. You can upgrade to uTorrent Ad-Free to both remove the ads and support the developer.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 11.jpg
  2. Click "Options" in the top menu and select "Get uTorrent Pro." There are two upgrade options—Ad-Free and Pro. Both versions provide an ad-free user experience but have some notable differences:
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 12.jpg
    • The Ad-Free upgrade costs $4.95 USD and is billed annually.
    • The Pro version costs $19.95 USD and also includes malware protection, technical support, file conversion tools, and the ability to stream torrents instantly.[4]
  3. Click "Upgrade to Ad-Free." This will open a payment processing website in your default web browser.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 13.jpg
    • If you don't see "Upgrade to Ad-Free" and you are using a Mac, try clicking the small X on the ad in the bottom left corner of the application.[5]
    • If you want to upgrade to uTorrent Pro, click "Upgrade to Pro" instead.
  4. Enter your payment details into the provided blanks.[6]
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 14.jpg
    • To pay with a credit card, enter the information from your card next to "Credit Card."
    • If you prefer PayPal, click "PayPal." You'll be prompted to log in and pay with your PayPal account as soon as you're done on this page.
  5. Verify that your information is correct and click the "Buy Now" button. If you're using a Mac, uTorrent will automatically upgrade to the Ad-Free version. If you're using Windows, exit uTorrent and then continue with this method.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 15.jpg
  6. (Windows) Click "Bundle Installer" to download the Ad-Free version of uTorrent.[7] Now you'll be downloading an installer file to your computer. The file will end with ".exe" and be saved to your default download location.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 16.jpg
  7. Double-click the .exe file to install uTorrent Ad-Free. Once the installer has downloaded to your computer, double-click it to run the installation. Follow the prompts to replace the free version of uTorrent with your new paid, ad-free experience.
    Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent Step 17.jpg

EditVideo

EditTips

  • Be careful when modifying the advanced options in uTorrent, as modifying the wrong options can result in problems with the application.
  • You cannot use the Windows uTorrent Pro license on the Ad-Free version for Mac.
  • If you use private torrent sites that are known to be strict about torrent clients they allow, consider disabling "Automatically Install Updates" Preferences > General. If uTorrent automatically updates to a version that isn't yet allowed by your private torrent site, you will not be able to download anything new until the new version has been added.

EditSources and Citations


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How to Design Clothes

Posted: 13 Mar 2017 09:00 AM PDT

Fashion design is an exciting, constantly evolving field. It also takes a lot of work, and can be incredibly competitive. If you want to become a successful fashion designer, you have a long road ahead of you, but there are some straightforward steps you can take to begin the process.

EditSteps

EditAssembling a Mental Toolkit

  1. Learn about drawing. You don't need to be a master illustrator; a lot of designers use a funky personal style when they design. That said, you do need to be able to communicate your vision visually.[1] Take a drawing class, study some books, or just practice, practice, practice.[2]
    Design Clothes Step 1 Version 2.jpg
    • The most important part of learning any new skill is just doing it a lot. Set aside 30 minutes every day to practice drawing.
    • A good book to reference is Mark Kistler's You Can Draw in 30 Days.
  2. Learn about sewing. Even if you don't want to be the one to actually sew your designs, you need to know about sewing. Understanding the possibilities presented by your medium is an important part of being able to come up with innovative, exciting ideas.[3]
    Design Clothes Step 2 Version 2.jpg
    • Many craft stores like Jo-Ann Fabric offer relatively cheap sewing classes.
    • Studying pattern making is a must if you intend to sew your own garments.[4] You will need to know how a garment is physically assembled. Knowing how to break a design down into shapes is a crucial part of being able to sew a garment.
    • Buy some simple patterns at a craft store to practice with.
  3. Learn about design. If you want to produce innovative designs, you have to know about design theory.[5] Molly Bang's book Picture This: How Pictures Work is a great place to start. It will help you learn to think like a designer.
    Design Clothes Step 3 Version 2.jpg
    • Don't limit yourself to studying fashion design exclusively. The principles of design theory apply across all sorts of disciplines. It may surprise you how much studying something like typography can teach you about fashion design.[6]
  4. Learn about fashion. If you want to be a fashion designer, you need to learn all you can about the world of fashion. You may think of yourself as a very stylish person, but knowing how to dress yourself well is only the tip of the iceberg.[7] If you are designing based on what is hot right now, by the time your design is complete it might already be out of style. Professional fashion designers are constantly thinking ahead, to what the next big thing will be.[8]
    Design Clothes Step 4 Version 2.jpg
    • Watch videos or look at pictures from high-profile fashion shows online, or go in person if one is happening near where you live. Professional designers design their seasonal collections months in advance, so these shows can give you an idea of what kinds of trends will be trickling down into commercial fashion in the future.
  5. Learn about technology and resources. There are more tools available to designers now than there ever have been before. On top of knowing your way around a sketchbook and a sewing machine, you will need to know your way around Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
    Design Clothes Step 5 Version 2.jpg
    • Websites like Linda.com or Tuts+ are good online resources.
    • If you want to do your sketching on a computer instead of in a sketchbook, you will need to purchase a good pen tablet, such as a Wacom.

EditDreaming Up Designs

  1. Find your inspiration. What are you passionate about? What makes you itch to create? It might be a particular fabric, a work of visual art you saw, something you want but can't seem to find in stores, a garment you saw on the street, a particular color pattern, a retro trend you want to bring back, or any number of other things. There is no right way to get inspired. The important thing is to find something that excites you.
    Design Clothes Step 6 Version 2.jpg
    • Consider your customer. What kind of person do you imagine buying your designs? What does that kind of person need in a garment?
    • Combining existing styles and trends can be an interesting way to generate new looks. What would it be like to blend military elements with softer, more flowy ones? What would 1990s meets 1930s look like? How can you incorporate menswear elements into womenswear?
  2. Consider fabric. Do you want a stretchy material, or something with less give? Is your design flowy, or rigid and architectural? Should the fabric be smooth, or textural? If your original inspiration was an amazing fabric you found, you already have this covered. Otherwise, think about what kind of material your design demands.
    Design Clothes Step 7 Version 2.jpg
    • Consider embellishments such as buttons, lace, beads or embroidery floss as well. These can often impact your fabric choice.
  3. Consider color and pattern. A lot of the impact of your design hinges on your use of color and pattern. Think about the garment's intended purpose and how you imagine someone wearing it. Consider your customer, and what she might want to wear. Most of all, go with what you think looks good. There are no hard and fast rules here. You are the designer, and you should be true to yourself above all things.
    Design Clothes Step 8 Version 2.jpg
    • Look at a color wheel. Remember, contrasting colors (the ones across the color wheel from each other) make each other stand out. This can add a dramatic affect to your design, but if not handled well it can also be jarring and off-putting.[9]
    • Get some paint swatches from a paint store, and use them to experiment with different color combinations before you purchase fabric.

EditDrawing Your Design on a Croquis

  1. Draw the outline of a person. When designing clothes, it's important to think about how your garment will look on the body. This is why most designers draw their designs onto a human form. It can be intimidating and time-consuming to have to draw a figure from scratch every time you make a new design, so many designers use a croquis.[10] This just means a template you can use each time you sketch out a new garment. You will need to start by drawing the outline of a person in pencil. This is an intimidating prospect, but it doesn't need to be difficult.
    Design Clothes Step 9 Version 2.jpg
    • If you're not too daunted, freehand it. The idea here is not to be anatomically correct, and most designers' croquis drawings are rendered in some kind of personal style. Your design will look even more unique on a figure you drew yourself. Don't worry about small details; think of your drawing as a 2-dimensional mannequin.
    • If you don't feel up to the task of drawing a human figure from scratch, use someone else's work. Trace an image from a book or a magazine, or download one of the hundreds of free croquis templates you can find online.[11][12]
    • Many designers use something called the 9 heads method to make sure their drawings are evenly proportioned.[13] The idea is to use a head as a unit of measure, and to draw a body that measures nine heads from the feet to the top of the neck.[14]
      • Draw a straight vertical line, and divide it into 10 equal parts. This will be your guide as you draw.
      • Section 1 starts just under the head, and measures the body from the top of the neck to the middle of the chest; section 2 measures from the middle of the chest to the waist; section 3 from the waist to the bottom of the hips; section 4 from the bottom of the waist to mid-thigh, section 5 from mid-thigh to knee, section 6 from knee to upper calve, section 7 from upper calve to mid-calve, section 8 from mid-calve to ankle, and section 9 measures the foot.[15]
  2. Retrace the figure in dark pen. You are going to need to be able to trace this drawing onto another piece of paper laid on top of it. To make that possible, you'll have to retrace the lines of your figure drawing with a dark pen.[16]
    Design Clothes Step 10.jpg
  3. Trace the figure onto another sheet of paper. For this step you will need to put down the pen and pick up a pencil again. Lay another piece of plain white paper on top of the croquis you just drew. You should be able to see it relatively well, as long as you used a dark pen and your paper isn't too thick.[17]
    Design Clothes Step 11.jpg
    • If you have a lightbox, this would be a good time to use it. Just lay the croquis onto the lightbox, put the blank sheet of paper on top of it, turn the lightbox, on, and trace away.
    • If you don't have a lightbox and are having trouble seeing through your paper, try taping the two sheets of paper to a window on a bright day. You'll have to trace at an odd angle, but the effect is basically the same as if you used a lightbox.
  4. Start sketching your design. Still using your pencil so you can erase inevitable mistakes, lightly draw the garment you've been imagining. Start with more general things like the basic shape of the garment, and gradually add details as it takes form. When you are satisfied, retrace the whole drawing in pen.[18]
    Design Clothes Step 12.jpg
  5. Color your design. You can use whatever drawing materials you want for this step. Markers and colored pencils work particularly well, since they lend themselves to layering. Start with the lightest colors you plan on using, and shade in larger areas with long, consistent strokes that move in the same direction as the fabric. Gradually incorporate darker colors, patterns, and shadow as you go.[19][20]
    Design Clothes Step 13.jpg
  6. Repeat as wanted. Now that you have a croquis, starting a new design should be much faster. Just trace the figure, and get going.
    Design Clothes Step 14.jpg

EditSewing

  1. Make a dummy. You will need a dressmaking dummy to be able to see the garment as you work on it, and make sure it fits a human form. If you don't have one, you can create a makeshift one yourself, in your own size.[21]
    Design Clothes Step 15.jpg
    • Put on a shirt that you don't want, and cover it completely with duct tape while wearing it. This will create a stiff duct tape form in the shape of your body.
    • Remove it by cutting it down the side, from your hip to your armpit, and then up along the sleeve.
    • Tape back over the cut to make the form whole again. Stuff it with newspaper, and close up the bottom, neck, and sleeves with more duct tape. You can decide whether to keep the arms, or cut them off.
  2. Draw your pattern on butcher paper. Use a pencil in case of mistakes, and label each section to avoid confusion later. Remember the old carpenters' adage: measure twice, cut once. You can waste a lot of time with a single mistake. When you're done, cut out the shapes.[22]
    Design Clothes Step 16.jpg
    • Ideally you should know a thing or two about pattern making before attempting this, but you don't have to be an expert. You do need to be able to envision how your garment will be put together, however, and have the skills to execute it.[23][24]
  3. Recreate the pattern on muslin. Lay the butcher paper pieces of your pattern onto muslin, and trace them. Cut these out too, and pin them into the basic shape of your garment.[25]
    Design Clothes Step 17.jpg
  4. Sew your mock-up. Introduce your pinned muslin garment to your sewing machine. Remove the pins, and put the garment on a mannequin, or on your own body if you are designing for yourself.
    Design Clothes Step 18.jpg
  5. Evaluate the garment. Look at how it fits. Think about the shape. What's working? What isn't? Take notes, make sketches, draw on or cut the muslin, or whatever helps you make sense of the changes you want to make.[26]
    Design Clothes Step 19.jpg
  6. Decide what your next step is. How close is the mock-up to what you had envisioned? Are you ready to move forward with this design? Do you need to make another before you try it with nicer fabric? Depending on how your mock-up looks, you may want to go back to the drawing board completely, or you may be ready to move on to sewing the actual garment.[27]
    Design Clothes Step 20.jpg
  7. Move on to the real thing. It's time to bring your design to life. Proceed as you did with the muslin mock-up.[28][29] Remember, you are going to make mistakes, especially the first few times around. Make sure you buy more fabric than you think you need, give yourself lots of extra time, and always double-check your measurements. Things will not always go according to plan. Be prepared to problem solve, or tweak your design as you go. Sometimes the most exciting innovations come from mistakes.
    Design Clothes Step 21.jpg

EditSelling Your Work

  1. Build a portfolio. Document your work in photographs as you go. This is how you will sell yourself as a designer as your career progresses. Keep in mind that you want to showcase your versatility, while also demonstrating that you have a unique voice and point of view. There should be a variety of pieces in your portfolio, but they should all scream "you."[30][31]
    Design Clothes Step 22.jpg
    • Take quality photographs. Don't just lay the dress you made on your bed and take a poorly lit picture with your phone. Put your garments on live models, make sure they are well lit (if you don't have the resources to do this inside, go outside on slightly overcast day—this will give you even lighting), use a decent camera, and pay attention to details like hair, makeup, and accessories. The way you present your work plays a huge roll in the impact it creates.[32]
  2. Do some research. Are there independent clothing boutiques in your area that sell clothes with an aesthetic similar to yours? Are there websites that sell clothes that remind you of your own? Try to find designers doing work that reminds you of yours, or of what you would like your designs to evolve into. Observe their tactics.
    Design Clothes Step 23.jpg
  3. Use online resources. Some websites will fabricate your designs for you, if they or their users are sufficiently impressed. Look into websites like Gamz and Fabricly if you think you have a killer design that you're not up to sewing on your own.[33]
    Design Clothes Step 24.jpg
    • If you are more of a graphic designer, but think your work would look great on clothing, look into sites like RedBubble, that can print your artwork on a variety of different products.
  4. Build a website. If you want to sell your clothes, the world must know about your genius. Almost anyone can design a beautiful website these days; use a platform like Squarespace to create a site to display your portfolio. Keep it simple and elegant. You want to the focus to be on your clothing design, not your web design.
    Design Clothes Step 25.jpg
  5. Brand yourself. Develop a social media presence. Get on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, the works. You need to get eyes on your work, above and beyond all else. Worry about selling things later. Right now, you need to create a buzz.[34][35]
    Design Clothes Step 26.jpg

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EditSources and Citations


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How to Check Feet for Complications of Diabetes

Posted: 13 Mar 2017 01:00 AM PDT

Diabetes is a chronic disease involving a lack of insulin production in the pancreas or reduced sensitivity to its effects among cells. Insulin is needed for cells to take up glucose. If left untreated, persistently high blood glucose causes damage to organs and nerves, especially the small peripheral nerves that extend into the eyes, hands and feet. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 60-70% percent of diabetics have some form of nerve damage (neuropathy).[1] Often the feet are the first to show symptoms related to diabetes, so learning what the symptoms are and checking for them on a regular basis will help prevent irreversible damage and disability.

EditSteps

EditLooking for Changes in Foot Sensations

  1. Be aware of numbness in your feet. One of the initial and most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy that diabetics notice is that their feet lose sensation and become numb.[2] It can start in the toes, then progress to the rest of the foot and then up the leg in a stocking-like distribution. Usually both feet are affected, although one side may begin first or be more noticeable than the other.
    Check Feet for Complications of Diabetes Step 1 Version 2.jpg
    • Related to the numbness is a reduced ability to feel pain from excessive temperatures (both hot and cold). Because of this, diabetics are at greater risk of getting scalded from a hot bath or getting frostbite during the winter.
    • Chronic numbness can prevent a diabetic from knowing when their foot is cut, blistered or otherwise injured. This phenomenon is very common in diabetics, and can result in the foot becoming infected. Sometimes, the neuropathy is so bad that the foot is infected for a long time before the person realizes it, and the infection can get deep into the tissue and even affect the bone. This can require a long course of IV antibiotics and can be potentially life-threating.
    • Peripheral neuropathy symptoms, such as numbness, are usually worse at night while in bed.
  2. Be alert to tingling and burning sensations. Another common symptom is uncomfortable sensations, such as tingling, pins and needles and/or burning pain.[3] Such sensations can feel similar to those when circulation returns to your foot after it has been "asleep." The uncomfortable sensations, called paresthesia, range from mild to severe and don't usually affect both feet equally.
    Check Feet for Complications of Diabetes Step 2 Version 2.jpg
    • Tingling and burning sensations usually begin on the bottom (soles) of the feet, although they can also progress up the legs.
    • These strange sensations can sometimes mimic a fungal infection (Athlete's foot) or an insect bite, although the diabetic foot is typically not as itchy.
    • Peripheral neuropathy in the feet develops because there's too much sugar (glucose) in the blood, which is toxic and destructive to small nerve fibers.
  3. Take note of increased sensitivity to touch, called hyperesthesia. Another alteration of foot sensations that develops in a minority of diabetics is an increase in sensitivity to touch.[4] So instead of reduced sensation and numbness in the feet, which is the most common outcome, some diabetics become overly sensitive or even hypersensitive to touch. For example, even the weight of a bed sheet on their feet can be agonizing to diabetics with this condition.
    Check Feet for Complications of Diabetes Step 3 Version 2.jpg
    • This type of diabetic-related foot complication can mimic or be misdiagnosed as a gout attack or severe inflammatory arthritis.
    • The type of pain associated with this increased sensitivity is often described as electric in nature or burning pain.
  4. Pay attention to cramps or sharp pains. As the peripheral neuropathy progresses, it starts to affect the muscles of the feet. One of the first signs of muscle involvement in a diabetic is foot cramps and/or sharp shooting pains, especially in the soles.[5] The cramps and pains can be severe enough to prevent a diabetic from walking around and can be particularly severe at night while in bed.
    Check Feet for Complications of Diabetes Step 4 Version 2.jpg
    • Unlike regular muscle cramps where you can see the muscle twitch or contract, diabetic foot cramps aren't always visible to the eye.
    • Also unlike normal cramping, diabetic foot cramps and pains do not get better or go away with walking.
    • Diabetes-related foot cramps and pain can sometimes mimic and be misdiagnosed as a stress fracture or Restless Leg Syndrome.

EditLooking for Other Foot Changes

  1. Be mindful of muscle weakness. As high glucose goes into nerves, water follows glucose by osmosis and also goes into nerves. The nerves swell up and they lose their blood supply because they are swollen, so they die a little. If the nerve supplies a muscle and dies then the muscle no longer gets stimulation from that nerve. When the muscle is no longer getting nerve stimulation it atrophies (shrivels up). As a consequence, your feet might look a little smaller (shriveled) and the weakness might affect your gait (how you walk) and make you a little unstable or wobbly. Seeing long-term diabetics walking with canes or in wheelchairs is not unusual.
    Check Feet for Complications of Diabetes Step 5 Version 2.jpg
    • In conjunction to foot and ankle weakness, the nerves that give feedback to your brain for coordination and balance are also damaged, so walking quickly becomes a real difficult task among diabetics.
    • The damage to nerves and weakness of ankle muscles / tendons also leads to reduced reflexes. As such, tapping the Achilles tendon in diabetics triggers only a weak response (twitch of the foot) at best.
  2. Check for toe deformities. If the muscles of your feet are weak and your gait is altered, it will likely cause you to walk abnormally and put additional pressure on your toes. Additional pressure and unusual shifts in weight can lead to foot deformities, such as hammertoes.[6] A hammertoe occurs when one of the three toes in the middle of your foot becomes misshapen at the distal joint, making it bent looking or hammer-like. In addition to deformities like hammertoe, this uneven gait and balance can cause certain areas of the foot to be under more pressure than normal. This can result in pressure ulcers, which can then be infected, which can lead to a host of problems.
    Check Feet for Complications of Diabetes Step 6.jpg
    • Hammertoes can sometimes resolve themselves with time, but usually surgery is needed to correct them.
    • A common deformity of the big toe often seen in diabetics is a bunion, which is caused when the big toe is constantly pushed towards the other toes.
    • It's particularly important for diabetics to wear shoes with lots of space for their toes in order to reduce the risk of deformities. Women, in particular, should never wear high-heels if they're diabetic.
  3. Be very cautious with any signs of injury or infection. Aside from falling and breaking a bone while walking, the most serious complication a diabetic faces is an injury to their feet.[7] Due to the often lack of sensation, diabetics don't often feel minor injuries such as abrasions, small cuts, blisters or insect bites. As a result, these minor injuries can become infected and potentially lead to the loss of toes or an entire foot if not treated in time.
    Check Feet for Complications of Diabetes Step 7.jpg
    • Visual signs of an infection include significant swelling, discoloration (red or bluish hues) and the leaking of whitish pus or other fluid from the wound.
    • Infections usually start to smell badly as soon as the wound seeps pus and blood.
    • Chronic diabetics also have reduced abilities to heal as their immune systems are weakened. Consequently, minor injuries linger for much longer, which increases the likelihood of infection.
    • If a minor injury turns into a serious-looking open ulcer (like a large canker sore), medical attention is required immediately.
    • It is recommend that diabetics check the bottom of their feet once a week or so and that their doctor performs a close inspection of their feet at all checkups.

EditLooking for Other Signs of Neuropathy

  1. Look for similar symptoms in your hands. Although peripheral neuropathy typically begins in the lower limbs, specifically the feet, it also eventually effects the smaller peripheral nerves that innervate the fingers, hands and arms.[8] As such, be vigilant about checking your hands for the above-mentioned potential symptoms and complications of diabetes.
    Check Feet for Complications of Diabetes Step 8.jpg
    • Similar to the stocking-like distribution of diabetic foot symptoms, complications in the upper limbs progress in a glove-like pattern (from the hands and then up the arms).
    • Diabetic-related symptoms in the hands can mimic or be misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome or Raynaud's disease (arteries that narrow more than normal when exposed to cold temperatures).
    • It's much easier to check and be aware of your hands on a regular basis compared to your feet because your feet are often encased in socks and shoes.
  2. Check yourself for signs of autonomic neuropathy. The autonomic system includes the nerves that automatically control your heart rate, bladder, lungs, stomach, intestines, genitals and eyes. Diabetes (hyperglycemia) can affect these nerves and cause a variety of complications, such as: increased heart rate, hypotension, urinary retention or incontinence, constipation, bloating, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, erectile dysfunction and vaginal dryness.[9]
    Check Feet for Complications of Diabetes Step 9.jpg
    • Uncontrolled sweating (or complete lack of sweating) in the feet or other parts of the body is a sign of autonomic neuropathy.
    • Widespread autonomic neuropathy eventually causes organ dysfunction, such as heart disease and kidney failure.
  3. Be alert to changes in your vision. Both peripheral and autonomic neuropathies affect the eyes, as does the destruction of small blood vessels due to glucose toxicity.[10] In addition to the concern of infection and potential foot / leg amputation, going blind is often the biggest fear of diabetics. Eye complications related to diabetes include difficulty adapting to low-light conditions, blurry vision, watery eyes and gradual reduced visual acuity leading to blindness.
    Check Feet for Complications of Diabetes Step 10.jpg
    • Diabetic retinopathy affects blood vessels in the eye's retina and is the most common cause of vision loss among diabetics.
    • In fact, adult diabetics are 2-5x more likely than those without diabetes to develop cataracts.[11]
    • Diabetic eye disease also increases the risk of developing cataracts (clouding of the lens) and glaucoma (increased pressure and damaged optic nerve).

EditTips

  • If you have diabetes, even if it's under control with medication, you should be checking your feet for related complications on a daily basis.
  • If you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms, make an appointment with your family doctor or diabetes specialist to have them checked out.
  • Cut your nails on a regular basis (every week or two), or see your podiatrist if you are afraid you might injure your toes.
  • Always wear shoes and socks, or slippers at home. Don't go barefoot or wear shoes that are too tight — they increase the risk of blisters.
  • If you have diabetes, you may notice that your feet sweat more and look shiny. Change to dry socks more often if that's the case.
  • Wash your feet every day with warm (not hot) soapy water. Rinse them well and pat (don't rub) them dry. Make sure to dry well between the toes.
  • Consider frequently soaking your feet in a salt bath. It sanitizes your skin and reduces the risk of bacterial infections.
  • Dry feet can crack and cause pressure sores, so be sure to keep your feet moisturized. Use lotion or petroleum jelly on dry areas as lubrication, but don't use any between your toes.

EditWarnings

  • If you have any black or green-colored areas on any part of your feet contact your doctor immediately as it could be a sign of gangrene (tissue death).
  • If you develop a foot sore, or a wound that will not heal, see your doctor immediately.
  • Using lotion between your toes can lead to fungus growth.

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EditSources and Citations


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