Simple Advice on Diabetic Foot Care

 03-16-2021

Diabetes is a common condition that affects 34.2 million American adults. Today there are many more options and advancements in the way diabetes is managed, and many diabetics are able to live normal lifestyles. That being said, having diabetes does predispose someone to specific complications and concerns that should be kept in mind. These include foot ulcers, impaired wound healing, neuropathy, dry skin, as well as increased incidence of retinopathy, kidney and vascular disease. It is always easier to prevent complications, than it is to treat them.

In order to help prevent complications from diabetes, it is important to carefully manage diabetes, which may mean having a close relationship with your primary care physician and or endocrinologist. Consistently high blood sugars can lead to damage in multiple organ systems. Hemoglobin A1c is the lab used to determine how blood sugar is on average over a several months period. It is also extremely important to perform daily foot care to help prevent diabetic foot complications. Below is a basic list of diabetic foot care do’s and don’ts. As always if you have any specific questions or concerns discuss them with your doctor.

• Inspect your feet daily. Call your podiatrist if you notice any new calluses, dark areas, bleeding, drainage or unusual lesions. 

• Be sure to look between toes.

• If you can’t easily see the bottoms of your feet, try using a handheld mirror or sitting on a chair in front of a full-length mirror.

• Notify your doctor if you notice any new sudden increase in pain, swelling, redness, skin color or temperature changes, wounds, drainage or bleeding.

• Foot checks and routine nail care can be performed by your podiatrist about every 9 weeks with most insurance companies. 

• Clean feet gently daily. Test water temperature with a thermometer to avoid serious burns on parts of your body with neuropathy.

• Avoid using hot water

• Try using a baby bath temperature indicator, which can be found at most department or grocery stores

• Moisturize dry skin, avoid putting lotion between toes. 

• Lotion with urea works well for dry, callused skin (ie. Flexitol heel balm)

• Never walk barefoot

• Change socks daily, inspect socks for any signs of drainage or excessive wear patterns, these should be discussed with your podiatrist.

• Diabetic socks are designed to avoid compression. They can also be worn inside out if you notice the seams are irritating your skin. 

• Shake out shoes or check inside before wearing. If you have neuropathy you may not notice a pebble or object in your shoe.

• Do not use any sharp tools around your feet especially if your sensation is impaired. 

• Avoid cutting your own calluses or using ‘medicated’ pads – discuss new or worsening calluses with your doctor

• Neuropathy can sometimes cause numbness, burning, tingling or pain in the feet. If you think you have neuropathy, let your podiatrist and primary care physician know. 

References:

• CDC “What is Diabetes?” https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html

• American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org