You can reduce your risk of foot complications by keeping your diabetes well controlled, having your feet inspected by a family doctor or podiatrist at least twice a year, and taking care of your feet.

• Inspect your feet each day. Contact your doctor or podiatrist if you notice any infected toenails, swelling, sores, cuts, bruises, blisters, or red spots that do not heal after a day. Also, notify your doctor if you experience tingling, numbness, or pain in your feet. If you cannot see your feet well, use a mirror or ask for help from a family member or friend.
• Wear shoes and socks. Always wear well-fitting footwear, even indoors. If you walk barefoot, it is easy to injure your feet without realising it. Before putting on your shoes, check for pebbles, gravel, or anything that could potentially cause a cut or sore.
• Break in new shoes slowly and carefully. To prevent blisters, you should always have on socks or stockings when wearing shoes. Avoid tight socks, garters, or elastic bands to hold up socks because they can cut off circulation to your feet.
• Wash your feet daily. Use a gentle soap and warm water. If you have nerve damage, hot water can scald your skin without your even noticing it, so always be sure to test the temperature of the water using your elbow or a thermometer. Avoid soaking your feet, which can cause your skin to become dry and crack.
• Treat calluses and corns gently. Visit your podiarist for treatment of calluses and corns.
• Dry your feet thoroughly after bathing. Use a nonabrasive towel to gently blot dry your skin. Avoid rubbing, which can damage the skin. Don't forget to dry the spaces in between your toes.
• Moisturize your feet. Apply a thin layer of skin cream, lanolin lotion, or petroleum jelly to the top and bottom of each foot after drying your feet. Avoid putting lotion between your toes, where excess moisture can contribute to infection. Cornstarch may help to minimize moisture in between your toes.
• Cut your toenails once a week. Toenails should be cut after washing and drying your feet, when the nails are soft. Cut the nails straight across without curving in at the edges. Cutting into the corners of the nails can lead to ingrown toenails. Also, avoid cutting your nails too short. If you have trouble trimming your toenails, ask a family member or friend for assistance or contact a podiatrist to cut them for you. If you have any difficultyy cutting your nails it is important you get assistance from a podiatrist.
• Carefully wash any cuts or blisters using soap and water. For cuts, use a mild antiseptic like Betadine and cover the cut with a dry, sterile dressing and paper tape. Do not pop a blister. Instead, rub an antibiotic cream on the blister a few times daily until it heals.
• Avoid heat and cold. Never place a hot-water bottle or heating pad on your feet or place your feet near a radiator or fire because you may not be able to feel any damage that occurs. Instead, wear warm socks. Also, avoid sunburns by keeping your feet out of direct sunlight or by applying sunscreen. Feet can be damaged easily by cold surfaces or frostbite during the winter. Be sure to protect your feet from the cold during winter by wearing extra-warm socks and shoes.



Last updated on May 1, 2010 by Emma Hoult