Diabetic Foot Care

The scary truth of the need for proper foot care when diabetic is that it isn’t talked about enough. Although not every foot wound or opening will lead to a diabetes related amputation, regular foot care is something that needs to be monitored and deserves just as much attention as blood sugar monitoring and diet/exercise. According to the American Diabetes Association, every 30 seconds a person loses a limb due to diabetes related complications worldwide.

This isn’t to say that every blister will turn into the need for an amputation but it is to say that regular foot checks need to be done in order to reduce risks for wounds or ulcers that can put you at risk for infections. Best practice for reducing risk for wounds and infections is to complete a regular foot check. If you acquire a blister or ingrown toenail make sure to monitor the status and size of the area often. If a blister heals normally then it is not usually something to worry about, but if you have been regularly checking your feet and notice that you still have a blister or open area for an increased amount of time then it is time to consult a medical professional. When performing foot checks look for swelling, warts, open sores, pain, discoloration, or warmth in one area of the foot. These are all signs that you should seek a medical professional.

If you can’t see the bottom of your feet due to mobility deficits, then you need to be asking someone regularly to check your feet. You or that someone need to be examining the bottom of your feet every couple of days. Similarly, you should also be seeing a podiatrist yearly to ensure that there are no ingrown toenails or problems you did not notice with your skin checks.

Best ways to reduce infection or an open area on the foot:

Invest in good fitting shoes that aren’t too tight or too loose.

Some of our favs…

Ensure your socks are dry and change your socks if they become moist or wet