Skip to main content

Basic Diabetic Foot Care

According to the American Diabetes Association, about 15.7 million people (5.9 percent of the United States population) have diabetes. Nervous system damage (also called neuropathy) affects about 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes and is a major complication that may cause diabetics to lose feeling in their feet or hands.

Community Foot Care understands how even minor foot problems are a big risk in diabetics.

With a diabetic foot, a wound as small as a blister from wearing a shoe that's too tight can cause a lot of damage. Diabetes decreases blood flow, so injuries are slow to heal. When your wound is not healing, it's at risk for infection. As a diabetic, your infections spread quickly. If you have diabetes, you should inspect your feet every day.

Here is Community Foot Care’s advice for taking care of your feet:

• Always keep your feet warm.
• Don't get your feet wet in snow or rain.
• Don't put your feet on radiators or in front of the fireplace.
• Don't smoke or sit cross-legged. Both decrease blood supply to your feet.
• Don't soak your feet.
• Don't use antiseptic solutions, drugstore medications, heating pads or sharp instruments on your feet.
• Trim your toenails straight across. Avoid cutting the corners. Use a nail file or emery board. If you find an ingrown toenail, contact our office.
• Use quality lotion to keep the skin of your feet soft and moist, but don't put any lotion between your toes.
• Wash your feet every day with mild soap and warm water.
• Wear loose socks to bed.
• Wear warm socks and shoes in winter.
• When drying your feet, pat each foot with a towel and be careful between your toes.
• Buy shoes that are comfortable without a "breaking in" period.

As a diabetic, it is pertinent you have regular check-ups with your podiatric physician. Please call to schedule your diabetic consultation today with Community Foot Care.

Community Foot Care
Springfield: 937-322-7607
Dayton: 937-426-9500

Comments

Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
June 18, 2013 at 12:53 AM
Unknown said…
I would like to appreciate you for sharing these useful tips for the diabetic patients. Diabetic Patients should take care of their feet to preclude diabetic foot wounds.

Diabetic Foot Care Bethesda
June 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM
Unknown said…
Well, Washing feet daily with warm water and mild soap is really not an easy thing but somehow its better to wash feet instead of having any other problem.

Diabetic Foot Care Alexandria
August 30, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stiff great toe joint When you have a stiff great toe joint, it is mostly likely due to arthritis. The medical term is called hallux rigidus. The articular cartilage covering the end of the bone erodes due to wear and tear or trauma, which results in stiff and painful motion of the joint. Bone spur can develop on top of the bone preventing full range of motion of the joint when walking. Hallux rigidus commonly develops in adults between the ages of 30 to 60 years. Risk factors for developing hallux rigidus include history of trauma to the area such as a fracture leading to articular damage. Other risk factors include, history of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout. The symptoms of hallux rigidus include pain with activity especially during push off. People may also experience swelling around the joint, along with a bump that may develop at the top of the joint. Stiffness may develop at the big toe joint, limiting upward and downward motion of the toe. There are
9 comments
Read more

Turf Toe: A Tough Injury to Overcome

With the fall weather comes football season – and unfortunately, with football season comes injury. Whether you find yourself at your local football field to cheer on your own football star, cheering on your high school team from the stands, watching the Buckeyes take the field on Saturdays or the Bengals or Browns on Sundays, chances are you’ll hear the expression “turf toe” at one time or another this season. The expression turf toe might lead one to believe that the injury is a minor ailment limited only to those wearing football helmets and jerseys; however, this is not the case. Turf toe often plagues dancers as well, and can actually impact anyone in the right circumstances as it is an injury to the soft tissue around the big toe joint that occurs when the toe is extended beyond its normal range of motion. Turf toe isn’t a simple injury that pulls a player out of a game or a dancer out of a single performance. It can leave athletes sidelined for weeks in extreme pain. The good
25 comments
Read more
WHAT CAUSES PLANTAR WARTS Introduction: Plantar warts are result of a type of virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) getting into compromised skin areas mostly around the bottom of the heels or balls of the feet. The warts are generally harmless, but they can cause pain and have the potential of spreading to different areas of the feet. The plantar warts are easily diagnosed usually through scrapping of bit of the rough skin or by getting a biopsy. The warts are most prevalent in teenagers and individuals with weakened immune system. Most warts disappear on their own, but some require medical attention when becoming painful which affects daily activity. Symptoms: -          Callus area to bottom of the foot, usually rough and thick skin -          Wart seeds, which look like little black spots as result from small clotted blood vessels -          Pain and discomfort with direct pressure mostly when walking or standing Treatments: -          Freezing -    
5 comments
Read more