Foot Care for People with Diabetes
When you have diabetes, proper foot care is very important. Poor foot care with diabetes can lead to serious health problems, and 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. One in five people with diabetes who seek hospital care go to see a podiatrist Los Angeles
Times reports the American Diabetes Association as saying. The ADA further states that by taking proper care of your feet, most serious health problems associated with diabetes can be prevented.
When to Talk to Your Doctor About Foot Care
Your health care provider should examine your feet at each visit. In addition, see your Los Angeles foot surgery specialist if you have any of the following problems with your feet:
- Athlete's foot (cracking between the toes)
- Sores or wounds on your feet
- Ingrown toenails
- Increasing numbness or pain
- Calluses
- Redness
- Bunions
- Blackening of skin
- Infection
- Hammer toes (when the middle joint of toes is permanently bent downward)
If you need additional information on specific procedures such as hammertoe surgery Los Angeles podiatrist Dr. Jamshidinia, a board certified foot surgeon trained in all areas of foot and ankle surgery, can kindly address any concerns you may have. And for more detailed information regarding bunion surgery Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Thousand Oaks residents have an excellent resource in Tower Foot & Ankle Surgery with four locations in these areas.
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.
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 1/2 inch longer than your longest toe and as wide as your foot.
Tips for Foot Care in Diabetes
- Don't wait to treat a minor foot problem if you have diabetes. Follow your health care provider's guidelines and the first aid guidelines.
- Report foot injuries and infections to your health care 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. Go to your health care provider or podiatrist to treat these conditions.
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