Diabetes foot care

TIPS ON SHOES AND SOCKS

Wear shoes at all times to protect your feet from injury. Otherwise, if you have poor vision and less ability to feel pain, you may not notice minor cuts or bumps.
Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes. Never buy shoes that do not fit properly, expecting the shoes to stretch with time. Nerve damage may prevent you from being able to sense pressure from improperly fitting shoes.
Check the inside of your shoes for rough areas or torn pieces that can cause irritation.
Change your shoes after 5 hours of wearing during the day to alternate pressure points.
Avoid wearing thong sandals or stockings with seams that can cause pressure points.
Wear clean dry socks or non-binding panty hose every day. Socks may provide an additional layer of protection between the shoe and your foot.
Wear socks to bed if your feet are cold. In cold weather, wear warm socks and limit your exposure to the cold to prevent frostbite.

MORE HELPFUL TIPS

Avoid using antiseptic solutions on your feet since these can burn and can injure skin.
Avoid applying a heating pad or hot water bottle to the feet. Avoid hot pavement or hot sandy beaches.
Report sores, changes, or signs of infection to your doctor immediately. Report all blisters, bruises, cuts, sores or areas of redness.
Remove shoes and socks during visits to your health care provider. This is a reminder that you need a foot exam.
Make an appointment with a podiatrist to treat foot problems or to have corns or calluses removed. Never attempt to treat these yourself using over-the-counter remedies.
If obesity prevents you from being physically able to inspect your feet, ask a family member, neighbor, or a visiting nurse to perform this important check.