6 Great Daily Foot Care Strategies for Diabetics

From the moment you’re diagnosed with diabetes and you join the more than 38 million other Americans with this chronic disease, you need to pay close attention to certain areas of your body, namely your feet.

In fact, this higher standard of care and attention should be practiced daily if you want to avoid the very serious and life-changing complications that stem from diabetes — diabetic foot ulcers. Each year in the United States, 1.6 million new diabetic foot ulcers are diagnosed and, of these, about half will become infected and 20% will lead to amputation

Now that we’ve set the stage for why diabetic foot care is so important, Dr. Thomas Rambacher and the team here at Foot Ankle Leg Wound Care Orange County want to provide you with some great strategies, which we review below.

1. Wear comfortable shoes

It’s paramount that you wear shoes that don’t crowd your feet and that don’t put too much pressure on any one area. So, yes, we’re referring to high-heeled shoes with pointy toes, as well as any other shoe that chafes or rubs.

Ideally, when you have diabetes, you want your feet to be well supported, all the way around, with plenty of room for your feet and toes to spread out.

You can think of it this way, any footwear that can lead to a callus or blister is footwear you should avoid.

2. Wear compression socks

Another great strategy for avoiding diabetic foot ulcers is to wear compression socks that hug your feet (and calves if they go higher), which can help promote better circulation. Compression socks come in short, footy styles, as well as knee socks.

Compression socks not only encourage better circulation, they also ensure that your socks don’t bunch up and create pressure points that can lead to foot wounds.

3. Trim your toenails the right way

When you have diabetes, you can ill afford any condition that might lead to an open wound. So, be sure to keep your toenails well trimmed and filed so there are no jagged edges. Additionally, it’s a good idea to trim your toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails.

4. Exercise is very important

Once you get the right footwear and socks on your feet, we want you to use them. One of the best ways to manage diabetes and its complications is through exercise, which can help promote better vascular and nerve health in your lower limbs. Getting moving can also go a long way toward lowering your glucose levels.

5. Perform a nightly cleaning and check

At the end of each day, right before you go to bed, gently wash and dry your feet with soap and water. As you do this, perform a thorough check of your feet, especially if you have nerve damage that prevents you from feeling when there’s a problem.

In doing this, you can find a sore or open wound in the earliest stages and come see us, which greatly increases your chances of avoiding infection.

6. No feet DIY

If you have an ingrown toenail, bad calluses, plantar warts, or anything else that you’re tempted to take care of yourself in the comforts of your own bathroom, please don’t. People with diabetes should NOT perform even the simplest procedures on their own. 

If you have a problem with one of your feet, your best move is to contact our office in Mission Viejo, California, right away. You can call us at 949-832-6018 or request an appointment online.