GET THE NEED-TO-KNOW ABOUT FOOT-CARE WITH DIABETES!

by Dr. Kate Marsh

If you do live with diabetes, you need to be aware that your feet are susceptible to a number of conditions. It is crucial to care for your feet to keep them happy and healthy.

Over time, diabetes can affect different parts of the body, including the feet. This can increase the risk of foot ulcers and amputations. According to Diabetes UK, there were 26,378 lower limb amputations from 2014 to 2017 in England as a result of diabetes.

Diabetes can affect the feet by:

• Causing damage to the nerves in your feet, which can make it more difficult to detect any injuries to your feet
• Affecting the blood flow to your feet, which can make it harder for wounds to heal
• Increasing the risk of infections

The good news is that there are many things you can do to keep your feet healthy and reduce the chances of developing these complications.

Check your feet daily. Look for any signs of redness, swelling, cuts, splinters, blisters, cracked or broken skin, corns, calluses or ingrown toenails. Particularly check between your toes, around the edges of your nails, your heels and the soles of your feet. If you can’t see your feet, get someone else to check for you.

Keep them clean. Wash your feet daily in warm (not hot) water and dry them well, including between the toes.

Moisturise regularly. This helps to avoid dry skin which can lead to cracks and infection. But avoid using moisturiser between the toes as this can increase the risk of fungal infections. If you have dry and cracked skin, consider a specialist foot care cream designed to treat these problems. Diabalm is perfect for keeping feet moisturised and help you look after your feet. Diabalm™ is the perfect product to help you look after your feet.  This specialist footcare cream contains a complex blend of moisturises and an exfoliant to treat dry skin, maintain healthy skin and prevent skin cracking. Diabalm™ targets cracked and dry heels and is designed to keep your feet moisturised, hydrated and happy!

Cut nails carefully. Cut toenails straight across and not into the corners of your toe then gently file any sharp edges. Avoid cutting them too short as this can lead to ingrown toenails. If you can’t reach or see your feet, then get someone else to do this for you.

Avoid home treatments. Don’t treat corns or calluses yourself, including with over-the-counter corn cures. Instead, see your doctor or podiatrist for treatment, to avoid the risk of infection or ulcers.

Choose the right footwear. Shoes need to fit well to protect the feet and avoid excess pressure and rubbing. Your podiatrist can provide advice on choosing the best shoe to meet your needs. If you have high-risk feet, they may recommend special footwear and insoles.

Check your shoes. Before putting on your shoes each day, shake them out and feel inside to ensure there are no stones, pins or other foreign objects that could damage your feet.

Wear diabetes-friendly socks. Look for socks with flat seams, no elastic tops, extra cushioning and moisture-wicking fibres to keep feet cool and dry.

Avoid going barefoot. This can increase the risk of an injury and is particularly important if you have high-risk feet. Always wear shoes, even around the house.

Protect your feet from heat. If your feet are cold, pull on some warm socks but avoid putting your feet close to heaters, hot water bottles or electric blankets.

Seek medical advice early. If you notice any problems with your feet, see your doctor or podiatrist promptly to avoid the problem getting worse. Even minor foot infections can become a problem when you have diabetes so it’s best to seek help early.

Don’t smoke. Smoking can cause reduced blood flow to your feet which slows down healing from infections. If you need help to quit smoking, speak to your doctor.

Keep your blood glucose levels in target. When blood glucose levels are high for long periods of time this can increase the risk of diabetes-related complications. Work with your diabetes team to manage your blood glucose levels and keep them within your target range.

Move more. Being active helps blood flow to your feet and can also help to manage blood glucose levels. Build in some regular exercise and try to break up sitting time regularly.

GLUCOLOGY™ DIABETES SOCKS