Diabetic foot care

• Check the feet every day. Inspect the top, sides, soles, heels, and between toes.
• Wash the feet every day with lukewarm water and mild soap, and dry them thoroughly, especially between toes. Strong soaps may damage the skin. Test the temperature of the water before immersing the feet, as the normal ability to sense hot temperature is usually impaired in diabetics and burns can easily occur. Also, be sure to gently and thoroughly dry the feet including between the toes because diabetics are at high risk for developing infections especially in moist areas.
• Also, avoid applying a heating pad or hot water bottle to the feet. Avoid hot pavement or hot sandy beaches.
• Wear socks to bed if your feet are cold. In cold weather, wear warm socks and limit your exposure to the cold to prevent frostbite.
• Apply a thin coat of lubricating oil or lotion after bathing the feet. Because of the skin changes associated with diabetes, the feet tend to become very dry and may crack, potentially causing an infection. Soften dry skin with lotion, petroleum jelly, lanolin, or oil.
• Protect the feet with comfortable, well-fitting shoes. Never buy shoes that do not properly fit, expecting the shoes to stretch with time. Neuropathy may prevent you from being able to sense pressure from improperly fit shoes. Also, check the inside of your shoes for rough areas or torn pieces that can cause irritation. Change your shoes after 5 hours of wearing during the day to alternate pressure points. Avoid wearing thong sandals or stockings with seams which can cause pressure points.
• Wear clean dry socks or non binding panty hose every day. Socks may provide an additional layer of protection between the shoe and your foot.
• Wear shoes at all times to protect the feet from injury. Decreased vision and impaired ability to detect pain may cause an undetected minor injury by cuts or bumps.
• Exercise daily to promote good circulation. Avoid sitting with legs crossed or standing in one position for prolonged periods of time.
• Ask your health care provider to show you how to care for your toenails. Soak your feet in lukewarm water to soften the nail before trimming. Cut the nail straight across, since curved nails are more likely to become ingrown.
• Make an appointment with a podiatrist for foot problems or to have corns or calluses removed. Never attempt to treat these yourself using over-the-counter treatments.
• Avoid using antiseptic solutions on your feet since these are very caustic and can cause skin injury.
• Remove shoes and socks during a visit to the health care provider to remind them to examine the feet.
• Discontinue smoking because it worsens blood flow to the feet.
• Report sores, changes and/or signs of infection immediately. Report all blisters, bruises, cuts, sores or areas of redness.