Diabetes - taking care of your feet

Self-care

Diabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels in your feet. This damage can cause numbness and reduce feeling in your feet. As a result, your feet may not heal well if they are injured. If you get a blister, you may not notice and it may get worse.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.

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Check your feet every day. Inspect the tops, sides, soles, heels, and between your toes. Look for:

• Dry and cracked skin
• Blisters or sores
• Bruises or cuts
• Redness, warmth, or tenderness
• Firm or hard spots

If you cannot see well, ask someone else to check your feet.

Call your health care provider right way about any foot problems you have. DO NOT try to treat these problems yourself. Even small sores or blisters can become big problems if infection develops or they DO NOT heal. Foot ulcers are a common reason for hospital stays for people with diabetes.

Wash your feet every day with lukewarm water and mild soap. Strong soaps may damage the skin.

• Check the temperature of the water with your hand or elbow first.
• Gently dry your feet, especially between the toes.
• Use lotion, petroleum jelly, lanolin, or oil on dry skin. DO NOT put lotion, oil, or cream between your toes.

Ask your health care provider to show you how to trim your toenails.

• Soak your feet in lukewarm water to soften your toenails before trimming.
• Cut the nails straight across. Curved nails are more likely to become ingrown.
• Make sure the edge of each nail does not press into the skin of the next toe.

Your foot doctor (podiatrist) can trim your toenails if you are unable to.

Most people with diabetes should have corns or calluses treated by a foot doctor. If your doctor has given you permission to treat corns or calluses on your own:

• Gently use a pumice stone to remove corns and calluses after a shower or bath, when your skin is soft.
• DO NOT use medicated pads or try to shave or cut corns and calluses away at home.

If you smoke, stop. Smoking decreases blood flow to your feet. Talk to your provider or nurse if you need help quitting.

DO NOT use a heating pad or hot water bottle on your feet. DO NOT walk barefoot, especially on hot pavement or hot, sandy beaches. Remove your shoes and socks during visits to your provider so that they can check your feet.

Shoes and Socks

Wear shoes at all times to protect your feet from injury. Before you put them on, always check the inside of your shoes for stones, nails, or rough areas that may hurt your feet.

Wear shoes that are comfortable and fit well when you buy them. Never buy shoes that are tight, not even it you think they will stretch as you wear them. You may not feel pressure from shoes that DO NOT fit well. Blisters and sores can develop when your foot presses against your shoe.

Ask your provider about special shoes that can give your feet more room. When you get new shoes, break them in slowly. Wear them 1 or 2 hours a day for the first 1 or 2 weeks.

Change your broken-in shoes after 5 hours during the day to change the pressure points on your feet. DO NOT wear flip-flop sandals or stockings with seams. Both can cause pressure points.

To protect your feet, wear clean, dry socks or non-binding panty hose every day. Holes in socks or stockings can put damaging pressure on your toes.

You may want special socks with extra padding. Socks that move moisture away from your feet will keep your feet drier. In cold weather, wear warm socks, and DO NOT stay out in the cold for very long. Wear clean, dry socks to bed if your feet are cold.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your provider if you have any of the following changes to any part of your foot:

• Redness, increased warmth, or swelling
• Sores or cracks
• Tingling or burning feeling
• Pain