10 Foot Care Tips for People With Diabetes

For those living with diabetes, the risk of developing diabetic foot disease is between 15 to 25 percent. Risk factors such as neuropathy, foot deformity, poorly controlled diabetes and cigarette smoking can all contribute to the development of foot ulcers, which can lead to infection, gangrene and amputation. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk of developing diabetic foot disease.

10. Stop Smoking

Smoking contributes to vascular disease, which can prevent wounds from healing, and neuropathy, which can prevent you from feeling pain when you cut your foot or suffer another form of trauma.

9. Maintain Good Glycemic Control

Achieving glycemic control of less than 6.5 percent will help prevent hyperglycemia, which can lead to microvascular damage that will affect circulation in your lower extremities.

8. See Your Eye Doctor

Schedule yearly visits with your eye doctor to identify early symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. Visual impairment not only increases your risk of bodily injury but decreases your ability to detect foot wounds or developing ulcers.

7. Buy New Shoes

Wearing a well-fitting, breathable shoe will help prevent foot wounds like blisters, scrapes and calluses that can lead to diabetic foot ulcers. Break shoes in gradually, and always wear socks.

6. Avoid OTC Foot Medicine

Over-the-counter treatments for warts or calluses contain acids that can affect surrounding skin, causing serious skin breakdown and injury. See your doctor for treatment of these disorders.

5. Wash Gently

Do not soak your feet, because this softens your skin, making it easier to tear. Use a soft cloth to wash your feet and a soft towel to dry them. Apply lotion after washing, but avoid applying between toes, because this leads to moisture build-up and skin breakdown.

4. Give Yourself a Pedicure

Foot care extends from heels to toenails. File toenails straight across to prevent ingrown nails, being careful not to file shorter than the end of your toes. Ingrown nails can promote infection in surrounding tissue.

3. Keep Your Doctor Appointments

Your doctor should regularly examine your feet for signs of ulceration, symptoms of neuropathy and signs of vascular damage. Tests should include a dermatology assessment of your skin integrity, a musculoskeletal assessment of your foot structure, a neurologic assessment to identify loss of sensation and a vascular assessment to spot low blood pressure in your lower extremities.

2. Treat Foot Wounds Promptly

If you suffer minor foot trauma, immediately clean the wound with warm, soapy water twice a day, dry gently and thoroughly, and try to stay off your feet. If there is no improvement in 2 days, call your doctor.

1. Know Thyself

You are the most important factor in diabetic foot care. Examine your feet daily for loss of sensation, tingling, coldness, numbness, cuts, blisters, sores or changes in skin color. Foot problems can happen overnight, so early attention is the key to prevent diabetic foot disease.