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Foot Health
Foot care is very important for
people with diabetes, but especially
for those who have:
• Loss of feeling in their feet
• Changes in the shape of their feet
• Foot ulcers or sores that do not heal
Nerve damage can cause you to lose
feeling in your feet. You may not
feel a pebble inside your sock that
is causing a sore. You may not feel
a blister caused by poorly fitting
shoes. Foot injuries such as these
can cause ulcers which may lead to
amputation. You can help take care
of your feet by wearing properly
fitting therapeutic shoes as
prescribed by your doctor.
Keeping your blood glucose (sugar)
in good control and taking care of
your feet every day can help you
avoid serious foot problems. For
more information on foot care, click
on the links below.
1. Take care of your diabetes.
2. Check your feet every day.
3. Wash your feet every day.
4. Keep the skin soft and smooth.
5. Smooth corns and calluses gently.
6. Trim your toenails each week or when needed.
7. Wear shoes and socks at all times.
8. Protect your feet from hot and cold.
9. Keep the blood flowing to your feet.
10. Be more active.
11. Be sure to ask your doctor to:
12. Get started now.
1. Take care of your diabetes.
Make healthy lifestyle choices to
help keep your blood glucose
(sugar), blood pressure, and
cholesterol close to normal. Doing
so may help prevent or delay
diabetes-related foot problems as
well as eye and kidney disease.
Work with your health care team to
make a diabetes plan that fits your
lifestyle. The team may include your
doctor, a diabetes educator, a
nurse, a dietitian, a foot care
doctor called a podiatrist (
pah-DI-ah-trist ), and other
specialists. This team will help you
to:
• Know when to test your A1C,* blood
pressure, and cholesterol
• Know how and when to test your
blood glucose (sugar)
• Take your medicines as prescribed
• Eat regular meals that contain a
variety of healthy, low-fat,
high-fiber
foods including fruits
and vegetables each day
• Get physical activity each day
• Stop smoking
• Follow your foot care plan.
Keep your doctor's visits and have
your feet, eyes, and kidneys checked
at least once a year.
Visit your dentist twice a year.
*A1C is a measure of your blood
glucose (sugar) over a 2-3 month
period.
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2. Check your feet every day.
You may have serious foot problems,
but feel no pain. Check your feet
for cuts, sores, red spots,
swelling, and infected toenails.
Find a time (evening is best) to
check your feet each day. Make
checking your feet part of your
every day routine.
If you have trouble bending over to
see your feet, use a plastic mirror
to help. You also can ask a family
member or caregiver to help you.
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3. Wash your feet every day.
• Wash your feet in warm, not hot,
water. Do not soak your feet,
because
your skin will become dry.
• Before bathing or showering, test
the water to make sure it is not too
hot.
You can use a thermometer (90กใ
to 95กใ F is safe) or your elbow.
• Dry your feet well. Be sure to dry
between your toes. Use talcum
powder
or cornstarch to keep the skin
between your toes dry.
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4. Keep your skin soft and smooth.
• Rub a thin coat of skin lotion,
cream, or petroleum jelly on the
tops and
bottoms of your feet.
• Do not put lotion or cream between
your toes because this might cause
an infection.
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5. Smooth corns and calluses gently.
• If you have corns and calluses,
check with your doctor or foot care
specialist about the best way to
care for them.
• If your doctor tells you to, use a
pumice stone to smooth corns and
calluses after bathing or showering.
A pumice stone is a type of rock
used
to smooth the skin. Rub gently,
only in one direction, to avoid
tearing the
skin.
• Do not cut corns and calluses.
Don't use razor blades, corn
plasters, or
liquid corn and callus
removers -- they can damage your
skin.
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6. Trim your toenails each week or when needed.
• Trim your toenails with clippers
after you wash and dry your feet.
• Trim toenails straight across and
smooth them with an emery board or
nail file.
Don't cut into the corners of the
toenail.
• If you can't see well, if your
toenails are thick or yellowed, or
if your nails
curve and grow into
the skin, have a foot care doctor
trim your toenails.
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7. Wear shoes and socks at all times.
• Wear shoes and socks at all times.
Do not walk barefoot -- not even
indoors -- because it is easy to
step on something and hurt your
feet.
• Always wear socks, stockings, or
nylons with your shoes to help avoid
blisters and sores.
• Choose clean, lightly padded socks
that fit well. Socks that have no
seams are best.
• Check the insides of your shoes
before you put them on to be sure
the
lining is smooth and that there
are no objects in them.
• Wear shoes that fit well and
protect your feet.
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8. Protect your feet from hot and cold.
• Wear shoes at the beach or on hot
pavement.
• Put sunscreen on the top of your
feet to prevent sunburn.
• Keep your feet away from radiators
and open fires.
• Do not put hot water bottles or
heating pads on your feet.
• Wear socks at night if your feet
get cold. Lined boots are good in
winter
to keep your feet warm.
• Check your feet often in cold
weather to avoid frostbite.
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9. Keep the blood flowing to your feet.
• Put your feet up when you are
sitting.
• Wiggle your toes for 5 minutes, 2
or 3 times a day. Move your ankles
up
and down and in and out to
improve blood flow in your feet and
legs.
• Don't cross your legs for long
periods of time.
• Don't wear tight socks, elastic or
rubber bands or garters around your
legs.
• Don't smoke. Smoking reduces blood
flow to your feet. Ask for help to
stop smoking.
• Work with your health care team to
control your A1C (blood glucose
(sugar)), blood pressure and
cholesterol.
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10. Be more active.
• Ask your doctor to help you plan a
daily activity program that is right
for
you.
Walking, dancing, swimming, and
bicycling are good forms of exercise
that are easy on the feet.
• Avoid activities that are hard on
the feet, such as running and
jumping.
• Always include a short warm-up and
cool-down period.
• Wear athletic shoes that fit well
and that provide good support.
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11. Be sure to ask your doctor to:
• Check the sense of feeling and
pulses in your feet at least once a
year;
• Tell you if you are likely to have
serious foot problems. If you have
serious foot problems, your feet
should be checked at every visit to
your
doctor.
• Show you how to care
for your feet.
• Refer you to a foot
care doctor if needed.
• Decide if special shoes would help
your feet stay healthy.
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12. Get started now.
• Begin taking good care of your
feet today.
• Set a time every day to check your
feet.
• Note the date of your next visit
to the doctor.
Set a date for buying the things you
need to take care of your feet: nail
clippers, pumice stone, emery board,
skin lotion, talcum powder, plastic
mirror, socks, athletic shoes, and
slippers.
Most important, stick with your foot
care program .. and give yourself a
special treat such as a new pair of
lightly padded socks with no seams.
You deserve it!
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Information is reprinted from the
(NIDDK) National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases |
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