A Guide to Diabetic Foot Care

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with diabetes, know that this condition can also be dangerous to your feet. Diabetes can impact your blood flow and cause nerve damage in your feet. This reduced blood flow can also make any foot-related injury or infection more difficult to heal. Our foot doctor in Racine has put together some general tips for taking care of your feet if you have diabetes. As always, feel free to give our office a call with any questions you may have.

Inspect Your Feet Daily

If the nerves in your feet are damaged or aren’t as sensitive to pain, you may not notice sores,  blisters, cuts, or other problems right away. To make sure you seek treatment in a timely manner if something is wrong, we recommend inspecting your feet daily. A quick once-over before bed can help determine if you need to schedule an appointment with us.

Keep Your Feet Clean & Moisturized

Make sure to wash your feet using lukewarm (not hot) water on a daily basis. Using a daily moisturizer to keep your feet hydrated is also a good idea, but be sure that you’re not moisturizing between the toes. Doing so may result in a fungal infection.

Cut Your Nails Straight

If possible, cut your nails straight across and use a file to shorten the edges. Be sure to avoid cutting your nails too short, or it may result in ingrown toenails that can be painful to treat.

Wear Diabetes-Specific Socks

There are socks specifically designed for those with diabetes. They feature added padding, no elastic across the top, and they come up higher on the leg than normal socks do. The fibers are designed to wick away moisture that develops on the skin.