Diabetic and Foot Care

Numerous health risks associated with diabetes and diabetic foot ulcer is one of them. It observed that diabetic patient has high risk of developing foot ulcer. Therefore diabetic patient should take care of their feet. Following are some tips which can help them.

1. Wash and Dry Your Feet Daily

• Use mild soaps while washing feet.
• Use warm water.
• Use lotion on your feet to prevent cracki ng.
• Do not put lotion between your toes.

  

2. Examine Your Feet Each Day

• Check regularly the tops and bottoms of your feet.
• Avoid dry, cracked skin.
• Look for blisters, cuts, scratches, or other sores as it can take long time to heal.
• Check for redness, increased warmth, or tenderness when touching any area of your feet.
• Check for ingrown toenails, corns, and calluses as it is not good for diabetic patient.
• If you get a blister or sore from your shoes, do not pop it. Apply a bandage and wear a different pair of shoes.

3. Take Care of Your Toenails

• Cut your toenails after bathing, when they are soft.
• Always cut your toenails straight across and smooth with a nail file.
• Avoid cutting into the corners of toes.

  

4. Be Careful When Exercising

• Walk and exercise with comfortable shoes.
• Avoid doing exercise when you have open sores on your feet.

5. Protect Your Feet with Shoes and Socks

• Never go out with barefoot. Always protect your feet by wearing shoes or footwear.
• Avoid shoes with high heels and pointed toes.
• Avoid as open-toed shoes or sandals as these types of shoes can increase the risk for injury and potential infections.
• Do not wear new shoes for more than an hour at a time as it can cause blister on your feet.
• Look and feel inside your shoes before putting them on and make sure that there is no foreign objects in them.
• Avoid tight socks.
• Wear natural-fiber socks made from cotton, wool, or a cotton-wool blend.
• Make sure that your shoe fits properly especially if you have neuropathy.

6. Proper Shoe Choices

The following types of shoes are best for diabetic patient:

• Closed toes and heels.
• At least 1/2 inch extra space at the end of your longest toe.
• Inside of shoe should be soft with no rough areas.
• Outer sole of shoe should be made of stiff material.
• Shoe should be at least as wide as your foot.