Published on: Nov 29, 2022

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Diabetes Foot Care Tips and Its Importance

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If you or a loved one has diabetes, there is a higher risk of developing certain foot-related issues. This is because diabetes may damage the nerves around the feet, as well as disrupt the blood flow to your feet. Also, diabetes delays wound healing and render one more susceptible to infections. 

In this article, we will take a look at why it is so important to give extra care and attention to your feet if you have diabetes, and also talk about certain tips that will help you take better care of your feet, to keep them healthy. 

Importance of Foot Care in Diabetes

When you have diabetes, there is a higher risk of infections, especially on your extremities, including your feet. 

One of the first and foremost ways to take better care of your feet is to manage your blood sugar levels better and keep them within the recommended range, as suggested by your diabetes healthcare team. And by doing regular neuropathy testing to make sure you can take early action if required. 

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In people who have diabetes, even the smallest cuts or sores on the feet or near the feet area can take a longer time to heal and as a result, it can lead to more infections and health concerns. 

So what happens with the health of your feet when your blood sugar levels are not under control?

  • When this happens, it may lead to a lesser sensation and feeling in your feet area. 
  • If that happens, it becomes more and more difficult to understand if you have any signs of injury or wound in your feet, and as a result, you may not be able to give it the immediate care and medical attention it requires. 
  • It sometimes can also become a challenge to understand if you step on something that could hurt your feet, and as a result, it could cause injuries to the foot area which may sometimes go unnoticed and hence, uncared and unattended.
  • For people who have diabetes, it could also often lead to extra drying out of the skin, especially the skin of the feet.
  • When the skin of your feet starts to dry out a lot, it can often lead to a higher incidence of cuts and cracks, especially on the heel. 
  • When there are regular cracks and cuts on your heel or your feet, it becomes easier for germs, fungus, and harmful bacteria to break through the skin barrier and enter through the open wound. 

Diabetes Foot Care Tips

Here are some effective and easy-to-practice foot care tips that you should definitely try and implement in your daily foot care routine.

Not only will this help to reduce the chances of infection and health concerns in your feet area, but it will also make you feel more comfortable and be helpful for your overall hygiene, especially your foot hygiene.

1. Clean your feet on a regular basis

  • It is very important that you imbibe this step in your daily foot care routine.
  • Cleaning your feet on a daily basis is one of the first and most basic steps to take care of your feet, especially when you have diabetes.
  • One of the things that you need to keep in mind is that you do not need to soak your feet in the water, but wash them under running water or use a mug to pour water on the feet.
  • You can use regular room-temperature water or even mildly lukewarm water. 
  • You can use a very mild soap and even an anti-bacterial soap.
  • Lather gently around the feet and wash it off with water.
  • Once you clean your feet, do not rub your feet but pat them dry with a clean towel.
  • Make sure that you also dry the skin that is in between your toes and make sure that your entire foot is dry, including the soles. 

2. Use powder for your feet, especially in the summer months

  • If you are going out and need to wear socks or closed shoes, you can also sprinkle your feet with some non-medicated powder to reduce the chances of sweating and reduce the appearance of extra moisture on your feet.

3. Apply a moisturizing lotion, especially in winters

  • Once you have cleaned your feet, apply a moisturizing lotion or foot lotion or foot jelly on the soles of your feet and on your feet.
  • This will help your feet to stay soft and moisturized and will avoid them from developing any cracks.
  • However, make sure that you do not apply lotions or moisturizers on the skin that is in between your toes, as that could lead to infections.
  • If it is too cold, moisturize your feet and put on some socks when you go to bed. This will keep them nice and soft, prevent cracking, and prevent you from slipping. 

4. Check your feet every day to check for any signs of injury or infection

  • It is very important that you inspect your feet every day.
  • Look for any corns or callouses, if these are not dealt with immediately, it can lead to an infection or a slow-healing wound
  • This will make sure that you can easily spot any signs of infection, cuts, wounds, bruises, or cracks right at the start and get the required medical care that your foot needs.
  • Check on the top part as well as the soles of your feet every day. Check the skin that is in between your toes. 
  • Look for any blisters, sores, scratches, or any signs of bruising or discoloration. 
  • Check your toes and look at the toenails and around the toenail areas. 
  • Touch your feet and see if you feel any bumps or signs of tenderness.
  • If you feel anything is different from the normal, make sure to speak about it with your diabetes healthcare team.

5. Give special attention to your toenails

  • As much as you have to give attention to the skin around your feet, it is also important that you give the same amount of attention to your toenails.
  • Trim your toenails regularly and try and do this after your bath, as this is when your toenails will be softer and it will be easier for you to cut them.
  • In case your toenails are too hard, or if you feel any pain when you try to cut them, stop and seek medical help to trim them. You can visit a foot doctor, known as a podiatrist, to help you with the same.
  • Avoid cutting your toenails too deep as this can damage the bed of the toenail.
  • Avoid using toe or foot-related instruments that others might be using. For instance, if you visit any salon to get a pedicure, carry your own toe and foot care tools.
  • Do not cut the cuticles or pick on the skin that is around your toenails.

6. Take care of your heels

  • Just as the skin of your feet and your toenails, it is also very important that you take care of your heels.
  • Inspect your heels on a daily basis to look for any signs of bruising, cuts, sores, scratches, wounds, cracks, discoloration, any feeling of tenderness, or anything that seems to be out of the ordinary.
  • During your bath, gently rub your heels with your palms. This will help to remove the dead skin cells from your heels. 

7. Do not stay barefoot

  • Make sure that you always wear socks in winter or slippers or shoes even when you are inside the house.
  • It is very important that you avoid staying barefoot, as when you are barefoot, there is a higher risk of getting cuts, scrapes, or bruises.
  • It also becomes easier for germs, fungus, and bacteria to enter the skin around your heel and feet when you are barefoot.
  • Instead of only wearing socks, it is even better to wear a pair of comfortable sandals in the house.

8. Be mindful when you exercise

  • While it is very important to have a daily exercise routine, avoid doing the same if you already have any injury on your feet.
  • Daily exercise will help to keep improve blood flow to your legs. However, you should check with your physiotherapist before you start an exercise routine. 
  • However, if you notice any open sores on your feet or heels, avoid exercising and instead ask your diabetes healthcare team what alternative physical activity you can do till your feet are completely healed. 

9. Wear comfortable shoes 

  • To make sure that your feet are well taken care of, avoid wearing shoes or footwear that is too tight or too loose.
  • Wear shoes or sandals that fit you comfortably, without pinching your toes or without feeling too loose.
  • If your footwear is too loose, it can easily allow debris to enter the shoes and this can further cause injury to your feet, sometimes without your even realizing it.
  • Avoid wearing heels as well as open-toed footwear or flip-flops, especially when you are going out.

10. Use skin-friendly fabrics

  • When you wear socks, go for ones that are made out of natural fibers, such as cotton, a cotton wool blend, or wool.
  • Wearing cotton socks is the best for your feet, especially in summer and when you are more prone to sweating, as these will absorb the sweat and keep your feet dry.
  • Choose your socks carefully and make sure that they do not have any seams with thread or stitches that can hurt your foot due to constant rubbing around your foot or heel area and cause blisters. 
  • Wear socks that give you a comfortable fit and avoid wearing socks that are too tight. 

If you have diabetes, it is very important that you give extra attention to your feet. Failing to do so could result in serious issues where the health of your feet is concerned, and in some cases, it may also lead to amputation.

Fittertake

If you have any concerns or questions about your foot care, then you should contact your medical management team. The best approach to deal with diabetes-related neuropathy is early action and intensive diabetes management through lifestyle intervention.

Fitterfky’s diabetes programs, Fitterfly Diabetes Care, and Fitterfly Diabetes CGM help you reduce your Hba1c by a minimum of 1.96 points with their 3 monthly program.

These also include a comprehensive physical assessment, which will include management measures for any pain or concerns. For more details, you can check out the International Diabetes Federation guidelines for diabetes-related foot care.

- By Fitterfly Health-Team
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