This document provides guidance on proper foot care for people with diabetes. It recommends daily foot inspection and washing, drying thoroughly, and moisturizing except between toes. Regular exercise, avoiding smoking, following meal plans, checking blood sugar, and taking medicine as prescribed can help control blood sugar levels. Seeing a healthcare provider yearly for foot exams can check for common problems like neuropathy, calluses, blisters, or fungal infections between toes. The guide also provides tips on proper shoe and sock use to prevent issues.
This document provides guidance on proper foot care for people with diabetes. It recommends daily foot inspection and washing, drying thoroughly, and moisturizing except between toes. Regular exercise, avoiding smoking, following meal plans, checking blood sugar, and taking medicine as prescribed can help control blood sugar levels. Seeing a healthcare provider yearly for foot exams can check for common problems like neuropathy, calluses, blisters, or fungal infections between toes. The guide also provides tips on proper shoe and sock use to prevent issues.
This document provides guidance on proper foot care for people with diabetes. It recommends daily foot inspection and washing, drying thoroughly, and moisturizing except between toes. Regular exercise, avoiding smoking, following meal plans, checking blood sugar, and taking medicine as prescribed can help control blood sugar levels. Seeing a healthcare provider yearly for foot exams can check for common problems like neuropathy, calluses, blisters, or fungal infections between toes. The guide also provides tips on proper shoe and sock use to prevent issues.
This document provides guidance on proper foot care for people with diabetes. It recommends daily foot inspection and washing, drying thoroughly, and moisturizing except between toes. Regular exercise, avoiding smoking, following meal plans, checking blood sugar, and taking medicine as prescribed can help control blood sugar levels. Seeing a healthcare provider yearly for foot exams can check for common problems like neuropathy, calluses, blisters, or fungal infections between toes. The guide also provides tips on proper shoe and sock use to prevent issues.
Move more. Regular exercise for 10-15 minutes a day can help keep your blood sugar levels on track. Foot Care Guide For people with diabetes mellitus Don’t smoke. Smoking decreases the blood circulation to the feet.
Follow your diabetes meal
plan. Ask your doctor or dietitian for help if you’re having trouble sticking to it.
Check your blood sugar as
directed by your doctor. Check more often if you’re sick or if you’re concerned about high or low blood sugar.
Take medicine as instructed. If
your blood sugar is often high, your doctor may change how much medicine you take or when you take it.
Disclaimer: This is a controlled document. This document is not a
substitute for proper training, experience, and exercising of See your primary care professional judgment. While every effort has been made to ensure the provider or podiatrist (foot accuracy of the contents, neither the authors nor the Wound Reference, Inc. give any guarantee as to the accuracy of the information doctor) for a yearly foot contained in them nor accept any liability, with respect to loss, damage, evaluation. injury or expense arising from any such errors or omissions in the contents of the work. Recommended Daily Foot Care Shoe and Sock Use Guide Common Foot Problems in Diabetes
There should be 0.5-0.7 inches (1-2 cm) of space
Step 1: Inspect your feet. between the longest toe and the end of the shoe Feet feel Check the top, bottom, sides, Neuropathy numb or burn and between toes. Look for or tingle cuts, blisters, redness, and nail changes. Use a mirror if you have trouble seeing your feet Thickened dry or bending over skin in areas Callus/Corns of pressure (heels, bottom of feet) Step 2: Wash your feet every day. Wash your feet and toes Fluid filled with lukewarm water and soap. wound, Test the water temperature with Shape of the shoe should Blister usually from your elbow. resemble the shape of the foot. shoes rubbing Front of shoe should be wide so (Do not pop) toes easily wiggle and have space. Itchy and odorous *Avoid soaking your feet and Athlete’s fungal using hot water, this can lead Shake out your shoes and feel Foot infection to skin dryness or cause a burn the inside of the shoe for any usually objects or bumps that may between toes bother the skin.
Nail and Callus Care
Step 3: Dry your feet completely. Gently pat dry with Wear clean, dry cotton socks ● Cut nails carefully. Cut a clean towel and be sure to dry with shoes. Change them if they them straight across and between the toes. get wet or full of sweat. file the edges. Don’t cut nails too short, as this Never walk barefoot or with could lead to ingrown socks only. Always wear shoes toenails. or slippers. ● Do not remove or trim ingrown Step 4: Moisturize your feet. Purchasing shoes and socks: toenails or thick toenails. See a health Apply a thin coat of lotion but care provider for management. ● Avoid thong sandals, flip-flops, pointed NOT between the toes which can toe and open-toe shoes and high heels. cause a fungal infection. ● Never treat and cut corns or calluses ● Buy shoes late in the day when feet are their largest for a proper fit. yourself. Callus removal products and ● Consider buying socks and shoes made pumice stones may help but check with specifically for patients with diabetes. your health care provider first.