 Tips & FAQ's |
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The purpose of this site is to educate you in caring for your feet. If you are a diabetic, you need to pay close attention to your feet!
Signs you should look for:
Ingrown toenails: Ingrown toenails occur when the edges of the nail grow into the skin. They cause pressure and pain along the nail edges. The edge of the nail may cut into the skin, causing redness, swelling, pain, drainage and infection. The most common cause of ingrown toenails is pressure from shoes. Other causes include improperly trimmed nails, crowding of the toes and repeated trauma to the feet from activities such as running, walking or doing aerobics. Keeping your toenails properly trimmed is the best way to prevent ingrown toenails.
Foot ulcers A foot ulcer is a break in the skin or a deep sore, which can become infected. Foot ulcers can result from minor scrapes, cuts that heal slowly or from the rubbing of shoes that do not fit well. Early intervention is important in treatment.
Dry skin Dry skin can crack, which can allow germs to enter.
Blisters Blisters can form when your shoes rub the same spot on your foot. Wearing shoes that do not fit properly or wearing shoes without socks can cause blisters, which can become infected. When treating blisters, it's important not to "pop" them. The skin covering the blister helps protect it from infection.
Plantar warts Plantar warts look like calluses on the ball of the foot or on the heel. They may appear to have small pinholes or tiny black spots in the center. The warts are usually painful and may develop singly or in clusters. Plantar warts are caused by a virus that infects the outer layer of skin on the soles of the feet. DO NOT use over-the-counter medications to dissolve the wart.
A common complication of diabetes is damage to the nerves that allow you to feel sensations such as pain. This is called neuropathy. There are a number of ways that diabetes damages the nerves, but they all seem related to blood glucose being too high for a long period of time.
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- Don’t ignore foot pain. Its is not normal. If the pain persists, see a podiatrist.
- Inspect your feet regularly. Pay attention to changes in color and temperature. Look for thick or discolored nails
(a sign of developing fungus), and check for cracks or cuts in the skin. Peeling or scaling on soles of feet could indicate athlete's foot. Any growth on the foot is not considered normal.
- Wash your feet regularly, especially between the toes, and be sure to dry them completely.
- Trim toenails straight across, but not too short. Be careful not to cut nails in corners or on the sides; it can lead to ingrown toenails. Persons with diabetes, poor circulation or heart problems should not treat their own feet because they are prone to infection.
- Make sure that your shoes fit properly. Purchase new shoes later in the day when feet are at their biggest size, and replace worn-out shoes as soon as possible.
- Select and wear the right shoes for the activity that you are engaged in (i.e. running shoes for running).
- Alternate shoes - don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day.
- Avoid walking barefooted. Your feet will be more prone to injury and infection. At the beach or when wearing sandals, always put on sun block on your feet as you would put sun block on the rest of your body.
- Be cautious when using home remedies for foot ailments. Self-treatment can often turn a minor problem into a major one.
- If you are a diabetic, visit a podiatrist at least once a year for a check-up.
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Please fill out the form if you have any questions or comments
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