Diabetes and Your Feet

By Paul C. LaFata, DPM

Do's and Don'ts

• Follow your doctor’s diet and exercise plan carefully. Take your medications exactly as directed.
• Never go barefoot. Bare feet are easily injured.
• Inspect your feet daily for blisters, cuts, redness, drainage, or nail problems. If your
  vision is impaired have someone check for you. If you find a minor scrape, cut or break
  in the skin on your feet, keep the skin around it clean and dry.
• When removing an adhesive bandage, be very careful not to injure the skin around it.
  Check any wound several times a day to make sure it is healing.
• Wash your feet gently with lukewarm (not hot) water and mild soap everyday.
  Use a soft washcloth or sponge. Pat your feet and the area between your toes until
  dry.
• Apply moisturizing lotion to the dry skin on your feet daily. Do not apply between toes.
  This could encourage infection.
• Wear clean, absorbent socks or stockings, taking care they are not too tight,
  too thick, or bulky. Change at least daily or more frequently if needed.
• Wear shoes that fit properly and have enough toe room and no irritating seams. For new shoes, wear them for a few hours every day to avoid injuring your feet.
• If your feet get cold at night, wear socks. NEVER use a heating pad or hot water bottle.
• Do not cut corns or calluses or try to remove them with medicine.
• Trim toenails very carefully. Cutting nails too short may lead to ingrown toenails. File
  rough edges and never cut around the cuticle.

Prevention

At least once a year, everyone with diabetes should have a thorough foot examination by a Podiatrist. It should include an assessment of the following:

Protective sensation – using a monofilament or vibratory sensation test
Foot structure –  noting the progression of deformity
Biomechanics – including any limits in joint mobility or problems with gait and balance
Vascular status – including questions about painful walking and determination of pulses in your feet
Skin integrity – especially between your toes and on the ball of your foot
Increased pressure –  on the soles of your feet; areas of warmth, redness, or
callus formation.

Summary

Medical management of diabetes and proper foot care go hand in hand in the prevention of complications of diabetes. The diabetic should be aware of the changes that can take place in their feet and legs and seek early treatment for any questionable or abnormal findings.

Paul C. LaFata, DPM is a 1999 graduate of The Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio. He completed a 4-year residency in Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery at Community Medical Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Following completion of his residency program, Dr. LaFata traveled to Athens, Greece, to pursue additional training in deformity correction of the foot and ankle. He completed an orthopedic fellowship in reconstruction of limb deformity at the Russian Ilizarov Scientific Center for Restorative Traumatology and Orthopedics located in Kurgan, Russia. More information can be found about Dr. LaFata and his practice at www.westlawnpodiatry.com.