Diabetes
Foot Care
From
WebMD in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic
It's important to understand
the connection between diabetes and foot care. As a person
with diabetes, you are more vulnerable to foot problems because
diabetes can damage your nerves and reduce blood flow to your
feet. The American Diabetes Association estimates that one
in five people with diabetes who seek hospital care do so
for foot problems. By taking proper care of your feet, most
serious health problems associated with diabetes can be prevented.
Here are some diabetes foot
care tips to follow:
WASH AND DRY YOUR FEET DAILY
Use mild soaps.
Use warm water.
Pat your skin dry; do not rub. Thoroughly dry your feet.
After washing, use lotion on your feet to prevent cracking.
Do not put lotion between your toes.
EXAMINE YOUR FEET EACH DAY
Check the tops and bottoms of your feet. Have someone else
look at your feet if you cannot see them.
Check for dry, cracked skin.
Look for blisters, cuts, scratches, or other sores.
Check for redness, increased warmth, or tenderness when touching
any area of your feet.
Check for ingrown toenails, corns, and calluses.
If you get a blister or sore from your shoes, do not "pop"
it. Apply a bandage and wear a different pair of shoes.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR TOENAILS
Cut toenails after bathing, when they are soft.
Cut toenails straight across and smooth with an emery board.
Avoid cutting into the corners of toes.
You may want a podiatrist (foot doctor) to cut your toenails.
BE CAREFUL WHEN EXERCISING
Walk and exercise in comfortable shoes
Do not exercise when you have open sores on your feet
PROTECT YOUR FEET WITH SHOES
AND SOCKS
NEVER go barefoot. Always protect your feet by wearing shoes
or hard-soled slippers or footwear.
Avoid shoes with high heels and pointed toes.
Avoid shoes that expose your toes or heels (such as open-toed
shoes or sandals). These types of shoes increase your risk
for injury and potential infections.
Try on new footwear with the type of socks you usually wear.
So not wear new shoes for more than an hour at a time.
Look and feel inside your shoes before putting them on to
make sure there are no foreign objects or rough areas.
Avoid tight socks.
Wear natural-fiber socks (cotton, wool or a cotton-wool blend)
Wear special shoes if your healthcare provider recommends
them.
Wear shoes/boots that will protect your feet from various
weather conditions, (cold, moisture etc)
Make sure your shoes fit properly. If you have neuropathy
(nerve damage), you may notice that your shoes are too tight.
Perform the "footwear test" described below.
FOOTWEAR TEST
Use this simple test to see if your shoes fit correctly:
Stand on a piece of paper. (Make sure you are standing and
not sitting, because your foot changes shape when you stand.)
Trace the outline of your foot
Trace the outline of your shoe.
Compare the tracings: Is the shoe too narrow? Is your foot
crammed into the shoe? The shoe should be at least ½
inch longer than your longest toe and as wide as your foot.
PROPER SHOE CHOICES
Closed toes and heels.
Leather uppers without a seam inside.
At least ½ inch extra space at the end of your longest
toe.
Inside of shoe should be soft with no rough areas.
Outer sole should be made of stiff material.
Shoes should be at least as wide as your foot.
TIPS FOR FOOT CARE IN DIABETES
Don't wait to treat a minor foot problem. Follow your healthcare
provider's guidelines and the first aid guidelines.
Report foot injuries and infections to your healthcare provider
immediately.
Check water temperature with your elbow, not your foot.
Do not use a heating pad on your feet.
Do not cross your legs.
Do not self-treat your corns, calluses, or other foot problems.
Do to your healthcare provider or podiatrist to treat these
conditions.
WHEN TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR
ABOUT FOOD CARE
Your healthcare provider should examine your feet at each
visit. In addition, see your healthcare provider if you have
any of the following problems with your feet:
Athletes Foot (cracking between the toes)
Sores or wounds on your feet
Ingrown toenails
Increasing numbness or pain
Calluses
Redness
Blackening of skin
Bunions
Infection
Hammer toes (when the middle joint of toes is permanently
bend downward)
