Diabetes: Protecting Your Feet (2024)

FAQs

Diabetes: Protecting Your Feet? ›

Avoid injury by wearing well-fitting, protective shoes – do not wear open-toed shoes. Keep toenails trimmed. Cut toenails along the shape of the toe and file rough edges. Have corns or calluses treated by a podiatrist.

1. Inspect your feet daily. Check your feet for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, or nail problems. Use a magnifying hand mirror to look at the bottom of your feet.

Wear socks without seams. Avoid tight-fitting socks and garters. Wear socks in bed if your feet are cold at night. Do not use a hot water bottle or heating pad on your feet.

With the potential for nerve damage, your risk of minor cuts or wounds in your feet is much higher than for a person who doesn't have diabetes. And even a small wound can become infected if it doesn't heal well.

Walking without foot protection can be especially dangerous for those with diabetes and suffer from peripheral neuropathy. Not wearing shoes puts you at risk for injuries to the bottoms of your feet that you may not feel due to the loss of sensation from nerve damage.

It's also important to note that supplements and other herbal supplements should never replace medical treatment. The five supplements mentioned above – vitamin E, St. John's wort, ginseng, niacin, and chromium – all have the potential to interfere with blood sugar control or interact with diabetes medicines.

Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) incidentally induce hypoglycemia, which is often seen in diabetic patients receiving sulphonylureas. NSAIDs influence various ion channel activities, thus they may cause hypoglycemia by affecting ion channel functions in insulin secreting beta cells.

Is soaking feet good for diabetics? ›

A: The American Diabetes Association discourages foot soaks. When your feet are wet and wrinkly, they are more easily damaged, so be gentle even when you have just been soaking them as you shower. Make sure the water is not too hot and that you dry your feet well.

50% Lower limb amputation begin with a foot ulcer. 50% will have an amputation in contralateral limb within 2 years. 50% will die within 5 years of 1st major AK or BK lower limb amputation.

When you have diabetes, high glucose levels in the blood can damage nerves and blood vessels. Because the nerves and blood vessels supplying the feet are so long and delicate, the feet — and especially the toes — often get affected first.

“Don't let anything go unnoticed. If you notice a wound or feel a tingling sensation or numbness in your foot, it definitely needs attention,” says Dr. Gremillion. “Diabetics should wear white socks so that if you have an infection, you will see the drainage on your socks.”

Everyone with diabetes should have an annual foot check.

Your foot check is part of your annual review, which means you should have it as part of your diabetes care and it's free on the NHS. This is because you're more likely to have serious foot problems and these can lead to amputations.

Lubrication – Use an emollient to keep the skin soft and prevent dryness and cracking. Aquaphor, Lanolin, Vaseline, or Eucerin cream usually works quite well. Nail Care – Cut nails straight across using a clipper, not scissors. File sharp edges to prevent irritation of the adjacent toes.

Try to choose socks that: Are white or light-colored to make it easy to spot any bleeding or drainage, for example, if you have a cut or an ingrown toenail. Fit well and aren't too tight. Are made of a synthetic fabric or wool to wick away moisture.

Wash and carefully dry your feet every day. Take special care to gently dry between your toes. Very lightly moisturise your feet every day, but not between toes. Wear well fitting and sensible shoes.

Many people with diabetes don't need compression socks. But, if they are recommended, putting them on first thing in the morning before even getting out of bed is a key factor. “Put compression socks on when your legs are elevated, because the blood has already circulated down your legs.”

Consider taking these steps to improving circulation:

Biking, walking, running, swimming, and aerobics are good options. The most important thing is to be sure you're moving your toes, feet, ankles, and legs.