Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet. To avoid serious foot problems, follow these prevention tips:

  • Inspect your feet daily. Check for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, bleeding or nail problems.
  • Use a magnifying hand mirror to look at the bottoms of your feet (if your eyesight is poor, ask someone to check your feet for you). Call our office to schedule an appointment if you notice any unusual symptoms.
  • Wash your feet in lukewarm water. Keep your feet clean by washing them daily in lukewarm, not hot, water. If you have numbness in your toes or feet, test the water temperature with your elbow because you may also have numbness in your hands.
  • See your podiatrist for routine nail care and callus care. If you cannot do this, cut nails carefully and straight across. Don’t cut nails too short since this could cause ingrown toenails. Also, file nail edges.
  • Never trim corns or calluses. Don’t perform “bathroom surgery”—let your foot and ankle surgeon do the job. Don’t use sharp instruments to cut at anything on your feet. Even small cuts can lead to big problems.
  • Moisturize your feet. Use a moisturizer daily to keep dry skin from itching or cracking.
  • However, don’t use moisturizer between your toes, as this could lead to fungal infection.
  • Wear socks to bed. If your feet get cold at night, wear thin socks without tight elastic bands.
  • Never use a heating pad or a hot water bottle to keep your feet warm in bed. Cold feet can be a sign of poor circulation—bring this up with your physician
  • Keep your feet warm and dry. Don’t get your feet wet in snow or rain. Wear warm socks and shoes in the winter and also make sure your footwear is dry before putting it on.
  • Shake out your shoes and boots before wearing. You may not always feel something in your shoe, so be sure to look inside before putting them on. Do this several times a day in case you pick something up inside your shoe during the day.
  • Get regular checkups at our office. We can help you prevent diabetic foot complications before they start.