Caring For Your Feet As A Diabetic: 5 Top Tips

When you have diabetes, the circulation to your feet is limited. This leads to slow wound healing and an increased risk of infection. As such, it is really important that anyone with diabetes takes excellent care of their feet in order to reduce the risk of injury and make sure any injuries are diagnosed promptly. Here are some more specific tips to help you in that regard.

Wash your feet every day.

Washing your feet daily will decrease how much bacteria is on them, which will reduce your risk of infection. It will also remove sweat and other residue that could contribute to fungal infections and irritation over time. Use warm water when you wash your feet, and make sure you dry them off well afterwards. Go without socks until they are completely dry.

Wear shoes or slippers inside your home.

Walking around barefoot or in just your socks increases your risk of stepping on something that injures your foot. If you have any neuropathy in your foot due to your diabetes, you may not notice the injury because you won't feel any pain. So, wear shoes to protect yourself, even when indoors.

Elevate your feet when you can.

When you are sitting down and resting, elevate your feet. Lift them up and prop them on a pillow. This gives any excess fluid that has accumulated in your feet a chance to work its way back into your bloodstream. It will improve circulation in your feet, which helps prevent wounds and infections. Your feet should feel less swollen when you elevate them periodically.

File your nails after trimming.

Cut your nails straight across so that there are fewer edges to potentially poke into your skin. And after every trimming, use a nail file to file down the sharp edges. This helps prevent you from scraping one toe on the toenail of another toe.

Check for wounds daily.

Look over your feet at least once a day. If you have any cuts, blisters, or swollen areas, contact your doctor. They can prescribe an antibiotic cream for you to use, and they may also recommend additional wound care. It's better to seek professional attention early rather than waiting until your wounds potentially get worse.

If you follow the tips above, you'll be taking better care of your feet as someone with diabetes. Talk to your doctor or podiatrist to see if they have other, more specialized guidelines they'd like you to follow. For more information, contact a company like Advanced Podiatry and Wound Care.

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