10 Ways to Control Diabetic Foot Issues

If you have diabetes, taking care of your feet is important. Diabetes can cause many foot issues, including amputation. This blog post will discuss ten tips for keeping your feet healthy and free from diabetic foot issues. Following these simple steps can help you avoid serious health problems down the road. So let’s get started!

Why is foot care so important for people with diabetes?

Diabetes can damage the nerves in your legs and feet, resulting in numbness, pain, unsteady gait, and weakness. If you develop neuropathy, it will make it harder for you to feel pain when you have injured your feet. This can lead to untreated cuts and bruises getting infected. If the infection becomes bad enough, your bones can become infected (osteomyelitis), or the tissue that contains the infection can die (gangrene). If the damage is irreversible, your healthcare provider may recommend removing the affected limb, which is called amputation. 

So, how can people with diabetes take care of their feet?

Tip #1

Check your blood sugar levels

Use your glucometer to monitor your blood sugar levels. Keep a log of your numbers so you can understand how your medication, food choices, and activity level affect your sugar. If you keep your blood sugar levels within the target range (as specified by your healthcare provider), you can reduce your risk of developing diabetic foot issues.

Tips #2

Eat a heart-healthy diet

Diabetic foot care starts with what you eat! The American Heart Association recommends that you include a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy proteins, like fish, in your daily diet. 

Tip # 3

Take your prescribed medications

Be sure to take all medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Your medication regime is determined after thoroughly reviewing your symptoms, risks, and labwork. If you have questions about your medications, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider before stopping them.

Tip # 4

If you smoke, stop

Smoking increases the risk of vascular problems, especially in your legs and feet, which can lead to diabetic foot issues.  If you need help to quit, make an appointment with your healthcare provider, who can help you get treatment.

Tip #5

Wash your feet every day

Diabetic foot care continues in the shower! Be sure to wash your feet every day with warm soapy water. Afterward, dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes. Next, apply a moisturizer to reduce the risk of your skin getting dry and crack.

Tip #6

Check your feet every day

Diabetes can cause nerve damage that makes it hard for you to feel pain from an injury, so be sure to check every inch of your feet closely, and use a mirror if needed. 

Tip #7

Make an appointment with a doctor if your feet get injured

If you discover that you have a cut, don’t ignore it and assume it will just go away. People with diabetes often have reduced blood flow. Your blood is rich in healing properties, like platelets. In diabetics, the damaged area doesn’t get enough blood flow, so the cut or bruise won’t heal as fast. It’s important to involve your healthcare provider so they can take care of your cut with a wound care treatment plan. 

Tip #8

Wear comfortable socks and shoes

It’s important to wear comfortable socks and shoes so you won’t develop any callouses or blisters that can turn into something much worse. Avoid open-toe, open-heel shoes which may increase your chances of getting cut or bruised. 

You may even consider asking your healthcare provider for a prescription for diabetic socks and footwear.

• Diabetic socks can help you prevent foot issues because they can improve blood flow to your feet, keep your feet dry, keep fungal infections off your feet, and provide cushion to reduce the chances of developing blisters. 
• Diabetic footwear are specially designed shoes, or shoe inserts, intended to reduce the risk of skin breakdown or developing foot sores.

Tip #9

Keep your appointments

Diabetes Check-Up 

Every 3 to 4 months, your healthcare provider will ask you to come in for your diabetes follow-up. During your visit, they will review your blood sugar log and recommend bloodwork, including an a1c test. The a1c test shows the average amount of sugar in your blood over the past few months. This will help your healthcare provider adjust your diet and medications, which will help reduce the chances of developing diabetic foot issues.

Eye Check-Up

Diabetes can damage your eyes’ blood vessels, so you should schedule and keep your annual eye exams. During your exam, the eye specialist will place drops in your eyes to widen, or dilate, your pupils. Dilating your pupils helps your doctor to see inside your eyes more easily and inspect for damage caused by your diabetes.

Tip #10 

Make an appointment with a Podiatrist

Foot Check-Up

Podiatrists are foot and ankle specialists that can help you care for your feet and address any diabetic foot issues that may arise. They perform a wide range of services, including foot exams, trimming your toenails, treating cuts or bruises, removing callouses, perform venous and arterial screenings, and even prescribe wound care for a slow-healing sore. 

Foot care is extremely important for people with diabetes as they are at a higher risk of developing foot ulcers and other complications. If you have diabetes, taking extra precautions is important to keep your feet healthy and free of infection. We hope the tips in this blog post will help you do just that. Remember, if you have any concerns about your feet or are experiencing symptoms of a foot problem, always contact your podiatrist. We are here to help ensure that all our patients maintain healthy and happy feet.

References

• Dansinger, M. (2021, May 18). Proper Diabetes Foot and Toenail Care and Checking for Problems. WebMD. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/caring-feet
• Pendsey, S. P. (n.d.). Understanding diabetic foot - PMC. NCBI. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2878694/