DAILY FOOT INSPECTIONS
- Use hand held mirror or floor mirror to visually inspect your feet
- Ask a family member to help you if necessary
- Look for blisters, cracks, scratches and cuts
- Look for drainage and note color and odor
- Look for redness, skin changes and excessive swelling
- Note any peculiar sensations, such as burning, tingling “pins and needles”, or shooting pains
- Note any cramping in the calf or foot
- Let your doctor know what you have found so that the problem is caught early and may be addressed properly
DAILY SHOE INSPECTIONS
- Look at bottom of shoes for tacks, nails, etc.
- Look inside shoes before you put them on each day
- Be careful when buying new shoes-be sure you have room for the size and shape of your feet
- Exercise caution with new shoes- a slow break-in period helps prevent blisters
- Avoid sandals with thongs between the toes
- Avoid socks/stockings with a tight elastic top
AVOID TEMPERATURE EXTREMES
- Avoid use of heating pads and water bottles on feet
- Avoid placing feet on electric heaters and radiators to keep warm
- Watch out for hot pavement and sand in warms states-always wear shoes outside
- Watch out for cold exposure( frostbite) in cold states-wear thick socks and waterproof shoes
- Use sunscreen on the tops of your feet in the summer
GOOD FOOT HYGIENE
- Clean your feet daily- wash gently with warm soapy water and dry carefully (especially between toes)
- Avoid soaking your feet as it can cause skin to dry and crack
- Use lotion for dry feet-but never apply it between the toes
- Wear white cotton socks if your feet sweat (avoid nylon socks)
PERSONAL HEALTH
- Avoid walking barefoot-indoors and outdoors
- Avoid self-treatment (salves, ointments, needles, pumice stones, emery boards, etc.)
- Avoid cutting corns and calluses yourself
- Avoid over-the-counter callus and corn remover pads-they contain a mild acid which damages healthy skin if used improperly
- Avoid caffeine and smoking as they affect the blood supply to the feet
- Avoid excessive alcohol as it affects the nerve supply to the feet
- Good glucose control helps prevent complications of diabetes, such as visual disturbances, kidney diseases and nerve damage
- Daily exercise helps improve blood flow to your feet
- See your Podiatrist regularly for routine foot exams
- Diabetic patients should visit their Podiatrist at a minimum of once per year
