Diabetes foot care

Alternative names

Foot care for diabetics

Information

People with diabetes are prone to foot problems because complications of the disease can damage their blood vessels and nerves. This, in turn, may make you less able to sense injury or pressure on the foot. A foot injury may go unnoticed until severe infection develops.

Diabetes also alters the immune system, thus decreasing the body's ability to fight infection. Small infections can rapidly progress to death of the skin and other tissues (necrosis), which may require amputation of the affected limb to save the patient's life. Foot problems can be prevented in part with improved blood sugar control.

If you have diabetes, you are at higher risk for developing foot problems if you:

• have had diabetes more than 10 years
  
• are male
  
• have poor glucose control
  
• have eye, kidney, or heart complications
  

All diabetics should get regular foot exams - at least twice yearly - by their health care provider and should learn whether they have nerve damage.

To prevent injury to the feet when you have diabetes, you should adopt a DAILY routine of checking and caring for your feet, especially if you already have known nerve or blood vessel damage or current foot problems. Follow the instructions below.

DAILY CARE ROUTINE

• Check your feet every day. Inspect the top, sides, soles, heels, and between the toes.
  
• Wash your feet every day with lukewarm water and mild soap, and dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes. Strong soaps may damage the skin.
  
• Test the temperature of the water before immersing your feet, because the normal ability to sense hot temperature is usually impaired in diabetics. Burns can easily occur.
  
• Gently and thoroughly dry the feet, particularly between the toes, because infections can develop in moist areas.
  
• Apply a thin coat of lubricating oil or lotion after bathing the feet. Because of skin changes associated with diabetes, the feet may become very dry and may crack, potentially causing an infection. Soften dry skin with lotion, petroleum jelly, lanolin, or oil. Do not put lotion between your toes.
  
• Ask your health care provider to show you how to care for your toenails. Soak your feet in lukewarm water to soften the nail before trimming. Cut the nail straight across, since curved nails are more likely to become ingrown.
  
• Exercise daily to promote good circulation. Avoid sitting with legs crossed or standing in one position for prolonged periods of time.