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Foot
Care Important To Diabetics
 Auburn,
Jan. 24 ---Taking care of your feet is important when you have
diabetes. Even small cuts on your feet can become ulcers, and
untreated ulcers can lead to the loss of a foot or leg.
You cannot depend on
pain to tell you when your foot is injured, says Dr. Evelyn Crayton,
a foods and nutrition specialist with the Alabama Cooperative
Extension System.
People with diabetes
need to wash their feet daily, Crayton says. Dry feet carefully,
especially between the toes. Do not soak feet unless your doctor
advises it. If your feet are dry, apply a thin layer of oil or cream
after washing and drying them. Do not put oil or cream between your
toes.
Look for scratches,
blisters and cuts on your feet every day. Check the bottom of your
feet with an unbreakable mirror. If you can't see well enough to
read small print in a book or newspaper, have someone else with
better vision look at your feet. Pull your toes apart and carefully
look between them.
Cut your toenails
straight across. Use an emery board to round off the edges a little.
Never cut in-grown toenails or the corners of the toenail. If you
see any redness, contact your doctor or a nurse. If your vision is
poor or your toenails are very thick, have a doctor cut them.
Never cut corns or
calluses. Do not use corn plasters or chemicals on corns. Do not use
strong antiseptics or adhesive tape on your feet. If you have foot
problems often, talk to your diabetes doctor about seeing a
podiatrist, a doctor who treats foot problems.
Make sure bath water is
not too hot, says Crayton. Test the water with your hand or elbow
before you step in. Do not walk barefoot on hot surfaces like sand
at the beach or concrete at the pool. Special shoes to wear in the
water when you are swimming are available at discount stores.
Diabetics should keep their feet warm in winter with wool socks and
heavy shoes or boots. Use socks to keep feet warm in bed.
"Throw away the hot
water bottle and heating pad. They are dangerous to use when you
have diabetes," Crayton adds.
Most doctors recommend
that people with diabetes do not go barefoot, even inside. They say
the only safe time to go barefoot is in bed and in the bathtub or
shower. Don't wear sandals with thongs between your toes. Always
wear socks or stockings with your shoes.
Crayton says it is wise
to look inside your shoes and shake them out daily. A tack or other
sharp object may fall inside and you may not feel it before it hurts
your foot. Make sure your shoes are in good repair. Torn linings and
rough edges can tear or blister your feet.
Check with your doctor
to see if you need special shoes because you have foot problems.
Always buy shoes in the afternoon. Everybody's feet swell a little
bit late in the day. Only buy comfortable shoes. Tight shoes won't
stretch out enough. Break in new shoes slowly before you wear them
regularly.
To avoid swelling and
the loss of circulation, do not wear clothing, garters, socks or
stockings that are too tight for your legs. Do not sit with your
legs crossed.
Have your feet examined
at least four times a year by a health care provider. Always take
off your socks when you go for a medical checkup. Call your health
care provider or podiatrist at once if you have a blister or sore on
your foot. Do not wait until your next appointment even if it is
only a few days away. Be sure to tell the podiatrist you have
diabetes.
Source: Dr. Evelyn
Crayton, Foods and Nutrition Specialist, Alabama Cooperative
Extension System, (334) 844-2224
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