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Tips to Protect Your Feet
from Diabetes
Did you know your feet could be at risk if you
have diabetes and you do not look after, or check your feet regularly.
Diabetes can cause damage to the nerves which carry messages of touch, pain, temperature
and other feelings from the skin, bones and muscles to the brain (called diabetic
neuropathy). This damage may lead to a loss of feeling in the feet. The
loss of feeling to the feet can be dangerous for the feet. You may not feel any
pain, heat or cold in your feet and even worse if you pierce the skin of your
feet you may not even be aware. If unchecked, this could lead to infections, and
in very
bad cases amputation.
How does diabetes cause nerve
damage? Nobody knows exactly how diabetes damages the nerves but it
is thought that it is a result of damage to small blood vessels, which prevent
essential nutrients reaching the nerves. The nerve fibres then become damaged
or disappear altogether.
What you can do about it
Good
control of your blood glucose can reduce the risk of nerve damage developing.
It is important you know about monitoring
blood glucose and your doctor is alerted
when you blood glucose becomes uncontrolled. Persistently high blood glucose increases
the risk of nerve damage.
Good foot care is also very important and regularly
inspecting the feet to check for damage can help spot problems before they become
worse.
Taking care of your feet
Here are some DOs and
DON'Ts for good foot care
DO - Check your feet and
shoes daily (use a mirror if you cannot reach them).
- Remember
you may not feel injury
- Keep you feet clean, wash well and
dry gently especially between the toes
- Moisturise your skin
but avoid but avoid the area between the toes as this is normally moist enough
- Wear shoes or slippers at all times
- Report any
sores, swelling, cracks, corns, skin damage or change of colour IMMEDIATELY to
your doctor.
- Cut you nails (softer after bath) to the shape
of your toe. If you cannot cut your nails see a chiropodist/podiatrist.
- Run your hand around the inside of your shoes each day before putting
them on to check that there is nothing that could rub against or hurt your feet
e.g a piece of stone or sharp points.
- Wear well fitting shoes.
Make sure they are wide, deep and long enough for your feet.
- Change
your socks and stockings daily
DON'Ts - Avoid extremes
of temperature both hot and cold.
- Avoid very hot baths, put
cold water in first then add hot water. Test with your elbows
- Avoid
sitting close to fires and radiators
- Avoid hot water bottles.
Wear warm loose bedsocks instead.
- Do not use corn paints or
plasters to treat corns or calluses yourself
- NEVER use surgical
blades or knives to cut your own corns off. Go to see a chiropodist/podiatrist.
- Do not walk barefoot
- Do not ignore even
the slight injuries to your feet
- Do not dig down on the side
of your nails
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