Top 10 Foot Care Tips
Protecting your feet is a very important for a diabetic. Complications of nerve damage or neuropathy can worsen if you are not careful. Being diabetic can help decrease circulation to the lower extremities thus making small cuts or blisters a potential problem to foot health of a type 1 diabetic or type 2 diabetic.
Top ten Foot Care Tips
- Make sure you check you feet daily. Any signs of cuts, trauma, blisters, cracks, swelling, or color changes should be taken seriously and reported to your diabetic health care provider immediately. Using a mirror can be very useful if you have a hard time seeing all areas of your feet.
- Make sure that your shoes fit properly. I remember going to the podiatrist a couple of years ago and measuring my feet. My doctor asked me what size shoes do I wear? I told him that I wore a size 13! He replied that he measured me to be a 13 1/2. That extra half an inch may seem minimal to some but that is a lot of room that you are trying to squeeze your feet into. So make sure that you have the extra inch between your foot and the end of the shoe.
- Wash you feet everyday. Make sure that you dry them thoroughly between your toes.
- Nail care- always cut your nails in a straight line. Do not round your cut to the shape of your toes. Because this increases the likelihood of forming in grown nails.
- DO NOT try to perform self treatment of ingrown toenails, blisters, corns or any other signs of ware.
- Prevent Cracking- Apply cream or petroleum jelly to feet and heels but do try to avoid the area between your toes, because cream or lotion that sits in between the toes can make your skin more susceptible to infection.
- Keep the Blood flowing- Try not to cross your legs when you sit down, Stay active and exercise!
- Protect your feet from extreme temperatures. Stay away from too cold or too hot temperatures while using bath water.
- Exercise- ask your doctor about a program that is right for you. The more you exercise the more likely you will have better circulation to your feet.
- Be preventative- Use these tips to diagnose and monitor your foot health! If something does not look right, you should report it to your doctor or physician as soon as possible!
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