Trim your toenails straight across. Seek medical advice about any foot sores you have. Don't break a blister open, risking infection. WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic: "Foot Problems Related to Diabetes," "Diabetes: Caring for Your Feet.". "I've seen people walk on a nail for weeks until infection has developed." If diabetes has already dulled the sensations and slowed down circulation in your feet, just about any break in the skin can turn into a dangerous, festering wound. Check the tops and bottoms of your feet, using a mirror if you need it; you can also ask someone else to check your feet for you. However, research suggests that more than half of these amputations can be prevented through proper foot care. Diabetes can also affect the nerves in the feet. This should include: regular medical exams, including foot checks at every visit and checking your ABCs (A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol) monitoring your blood sugar daily regular exercise eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables You can help prevent serious foot problems by following a good foot care regimen. You can prevent ingrown toenails if you don't round the corners of the nails or cut down the sides. Never use chemical agents or razor blades. When feet and legs have nerve damage, a small cut or wound can go unnoticed. If you have diabetes, you should inspect your feet every day. Dr. Neil Scheffler, DPM, a podiatrist and coauthor of the book 101 Tips on Foot Care for People with Diabetes, published by the American Diabetes Association. Instead, Moisturize Your Feet Keep feet soft and smooth by applying a thin coat of moisturizing lotion or cream on the tops and bottoms of feet. Here are some tips for good foot care: Take care of yourself and your diabetes. Use a nail file or emery board. Cracking, itching and red skin between the toes are signs of athlete's foot fungus. If you can’t see, reach and feel your feet, ask for assistance from your doctor or caregiver. Without good blood flow, it takes longer for a sore or cut to heal. 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. A regular walking program will provide much benefit. This lack of feeling is called diabetic neuropathy. The disease had already killed many nerves in her feet, which meant she couldn't feel scrapes, cuts, blisters, or other sores. Cut your toenails correctly. Move the emery board in only one direction. That means checking your feet daily and seeing a foot doctor (podiatrist) every two or three months in order to catch problems early. Dry skin: Use moisturising soaps and lotions to keep your skin soft, but don't put lotion between toes. Bresta Miranda-Palma, MD, professor, Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami Medical School. Apply lotion or a moisturizer on your dry feet. These may be pills and/or creams applied directly to the problem area. That's because "people can develop complications before they realize they even have a problem," says Bresta Miranda-Palma, MD, a professor with the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami Medical School. Keep your blood glucose level within the range recommended by your health care provider. You can also ask someone else to check your feet for you. Do not soak your feet - Foot soaks can break down the skin and actually cause damage. If you do not feel a cut or sore on your foot because of neuropathy, the cut could get worse and become infected. For people with nerve damage, it is possible for a foot to become injured. Infection in between the toes can … Dry cracks in the skin, especially around the heel. Continue reading >>, Check the tops and bottoms of your feet, using a mirror if you need it. 2. I've got to tell you that within the first month, my feet stopped hurting altogether Not to mention how ratty it can make you feel. Ask your GP or pharmacist to recommend a treatment for athlete's foot. These breaks in the skin can lead to infection. It’s possible you may have foot problems without feeling pain in your feet. This affects how well they can feel hot and cold, pain, and other sensations. Continue reading >>, Why can't diabetic people put lotion in between their toes?!?!? Protect your feet at all times. When they have nerve damage, they can get burned and not even know it, also the hot water can cause the neuropathy pain to become worse. Moisturize your feet with an oil-based ointment each morning and again before bed. If you have diabetes, it's essential to make foot care part of your daily self-care routine. Dennis Janisse, CPed, a certified pedorthist who is President and CEO of National Pedorthic Services, Inc., and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Your diabetes may make it difficult to sense water temperature with your feet. ALSO RECOMMENDED FOR YOU (630) Nair. For all the recent progress in wound care and intervention, prevention is still the best place to begin. Moisturize dry skin If the skin on your feet feels rough or dry, use lotion or oil. Keep your feet clean and dry them well especially between your toes. Cut them to the shape of the toe and not too short. Antiseptic solutions can burn your skin. If you are having health problems of any kind I highly recommend reading these two books. Peripheral vascular disease — Diabetes also affects the flow of blood. These breaks in the skin can lead to infection. Diabetic lotion is a lotion designed to help diabetics with their foot problems. A foot injury can become badly infected without any pain or discomfort. Your doctor can tell you which type of lotion is best. Make sure the edge of each nail does not press into the skin of the next toe. If the skin on your feet is dry, keep it moist by applying lotion after you wash and dry your feet. The process of rubbing lotion into the foot provides a stimulating massage, good for the circulation, and offers one more chance to detect foot problems. Do not compromise--you have too much to lose. Most people with diabetes should have corns or calluses treated by a foot doctor. Check the tops and bottoms of your feet, using a mirror if you need it; you can also ask someone else to check your feet for you. Cut the nails straight across. Look for puncture wounds, bruises, pressure areas, redness, warmth, blisters, ulcers, scratches, cuts and nail problems. 4. Do not round off the corners of toenails or cut down on the sides of the nails. Without a good blood supply you may have problems with cuts and sores healing. Do not walk barefoot, even around the house. • Keep your shoes in good repair. Use quality lotion to keep the skin of your feet soft and moist, but dont put any lotion between your toes. Diabetes decreases blood flow, so injuries are slow to heal. A pedorthist is a professional trained to prevent or alleviate foot problems through the use of footwear, including shoes, orthotics, and other foot devices. Your health care provider can tell you which type of lotion is best to use. Putting lotion between your toes is generally discouraged, since the skin between toes tends to stay moist naturally; adding lotion there would overmoisturize that area. 2. Socks should be seamless, athletic type, of cotton or one of the new fibers like "Thorlo". Most diabetics end up having nerve damage and also poor circulation. Continue reading >>, If you have diabetes, it's essential to make foot care part of your daily self-care routine. Also, make sure you get your feet examined regularly as advised. © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. Wear What are some common foot problems of people with diabetes? Corns /calluses: After every shower or bath smooth these with an emery board or pumice stone. Wear only flat shoes that cover your feet. Use antibiotic creams recommended by your doctor and apply sterile plasters to protect cuts. Dr. Pedro Smukler, DPM, a podiatrist with private practices in Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York. Never use a heating pad, hot water bott Dry your feet gently with a towel after you wash them. Don't assume it will go away by itself! To prevent foot ulcers, treat scrapes or cuts straight away. Wash and dry feet well every day. 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