Foot Care
People with diabetes need to take special care with their feet. Infections of the feet can be hard to heal, and could ultimately lead to amputation. Why are you more susceptible to foot problems? High blood glucose provides bacteria the fuel to grow on. Feet are difficult to keep clean, and easy to injure. Bacteria can get into a sore from your shoe rubbing or a nick with the toe clipper or a cut on your sole and multiply fast. Your ability to fight infection is also decreased by high blood glucose, as well as reduced circulation. You may also have peripheral neuropathy, which affects the nerves of your feet with tingling or numbness, so that you may not be aware of a cut or blister on your foot. If a foot sore goes untreated, it can quickly become a problem. It is estimated that more than half of the amputations are caused by preventable infection complications.
Tips for Keeping Your Feet Healthy:
- Check your feet every day. Use a mirror to see the bottom of your feet, and look between your toes. If this is difficult, ask a family member or friend to check for you.
- Treat any skin break by washing with soap and water and an antibacterial cream and a small bandage.
- Clean your feet daily with warm water and soap, not hot water. Do not soak your feet. Because of decreased sensations, you are susceptible to burning your skin.
- Use a moisturizer to avoid dry skin and calluses, but don’t let it accumulate between your toes. Be sure to dry between your toes.
- Be careful with the care of toenails and corns and calluses. You can irritate or break the skin easily, and risk infection. Use an emery file for toenails, not scissors. Never cut corns or calluses, see your foot doctor instead.
- Avoid walking barefoot, even at home.
- Buy cotton socks, and shoes that are comfortable and don’t rub the skin. Break new shoes in slowly.
- Increase blood flow to your feet by walking more.
- Take your shoes and socks off when you go to a doctor appointment and have the nurse or doctor check your feet.
Diabetes and Foot Care
- Take the pressure off your feet by losing weight if you are obese
- Inspect your feet at least once per day; if you can’t see well, ask someone to do it for you
- Wash feet with mild soap and lukewarm water daily
- Wear white cotton socks rather than synthetic ones with dyes
- Don’t go barefoot or wear ill-fitting shoes
- See a podiatrist regularly for toenail trims and other routine maintenance
- Avoid plastic and waterproof footwear, as they encourage perspiration and fungal growth
- Avoid tight or unventilated footwear
- Do not wear boots all day
- Choose cotton or leather footwear
- Wear sandals as much as possible in the warm weather
- Do not wear the same footwear two days in a row
- Air footwear in the sun to help prevent fungal growth
Believe it or not, socks are a critical defense against keeping blisters away from your feet. Throw out any cotton socks you have, as they retain sweat and can help form blisters. Purchase socks made of today’s “miracle fabrics,” which absorb sweat and prevent blisters from forming on your feet.
Check your feet for cuts, blisters, and swelling that can result from diabetes-related nerve damage. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have sores that won’t heal.
Don’t wear high heels, sandals, or shoes with pointed toes. These types of footwear can put undue pressure on parts of the foot and contribute to bone and joint disorders, as well as diabetic ulcers. In addition, open toed shoes and sandals with straps between the first two toes should also be avoided.
Never try to remove calluses, corns or warts yourself. Commercial, over-the-counter preparations that remove warts or corns should be avoided because they can burn the skin and cause irreplaceable damage to the foot of a person with diabetes. Never try to cut calluses with a razor blade or any other instrument because the risk of cutting yourself is too high, and such wounds can often lead to more serious ulcers and lacerations. See your podiatric physician for assistance in these cases.
