Diabetic foot exercises for blood flow are designed to improve your circulation and reduce your risk of sustaining complications from diabetes. While adult onset diabetes is often a direct result of being overweight, it is important that you keep your legs and your entire body moving through cardiovascular and stretching exercises in an effort to keep your body weight down.
Ankle Pumps
Ankle pumps will help improve blood flow to your feet and improve range of motion in your ankles. Lie on a bench or bed with your knees slightly bent and with both arms at your sides. From this position, quickly pump your ankles back and forth, moving your feet away from your body before pulling them in toward your body. Repeat this motion quickly, alternating between each of your ankles until you are fatigued.
Tip Toe Walking
Tip toe walking will help you strengthen your calf and ankle muscles as well as help improve circulation in your legs and feet. Stand up straight with your knees slightly bent and arms at your sides. From here, shift your weight onto your toes, keeping your balance by extending your arms to your sides. Walk in a straight line for 10 steps before walking backward to your original position. Repeat this pattern until you are fatigued.
Foot Circles
Foot circles will help improve circulation in your legs and feet, and improve your range of motion. Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and arms at your sides. From here, extend your right leg out, ensuring that your foot is perpendicular to the ground and your toes point up. From here, make a clockwise circle with your foot, keeping your ankle stable as you do this. Repeat 10 times before repeating the same motion counterclockwise. Repeat with your left leg before stopping.
Calf Raises
Calf raises will strengthen your lower legs and boost blood flow in your feet. Stand straight with your hands on the back of a chair or wall for balance. From here, rise onto your toes, holding this position for a count of 10 seconds before slowly lowering yourself. Repeat this motion 20 times or until you feel fatigued. As you improve, increase the amount of time with which you hold your toe raise.
