Foot Care For Diabetes

By Ade Adetunji, DPM

Largo Foot and Ankle Health Center

. http://www.largofoot.com/

More Heart Disease, Stroke and Diabetes Articles

Foot Care For Diabetes

Part One

Diabetes can cause nerve damage. When the nerves in your feet do not work right, it is easy to stumble and injure your feet. You might also burn them or step on a thumbtack and not even know it. Nerve damage can also interfere with sweating, making your feet dry and scaly.

Diabetes can cause poor blood flow. As a result, wounds heal slowly. Sometimes, wounds don’t heal at all. Poor blood flow may make your feet cold, blue, or puffy. Your first step toward foot fitness is wearing shoes and socks that fit well and protect your feet.

• Don’t buy shoes at self-service stores. Have shoes fit by a trained fitter.
• Buy and wear only comfortable, supportive shoes with a low heel and plenty of wiggle room for your toes.
• Choose leather dress shoes; for casual wear, walking shoes are a good choice.
• Break in new shoes slowly.
• Check inside your shoes before putting them on for stones or other objects.
• Wear clean padded socks to protect your feet.
• Be sure your socks are smooth fitting and in the correct position on your feet.
• If your socks have seams, they should not rub your feet or toes.
• Socks are the best remedy for chilly feet. Don’t use a heating pad or hot water bottle to warm your feet because you might burn them.

See next month’s article for additional diabetic foot care tips.