About this topic
Diabetes is an illness that makes your blood sugar too high. If your blood sugar is not controlled, you may have problems with how well your nerves work. High blood sugars can damage the small blood vessels that carry food and oxygen to these nerves. Nerve damage in diabetics is called diabetic neuropathy. ‚
Diabetic neuropathy can cause problems with your legs and feet. The nerves in your feet carry information to the brain about pain and the sense of touch, such as something being too hot or too cold. If you have problems with these nerves, you may not be able to feel when you have a blister or cut on your foot. A small sore may lead to a bigger problem because it is not treated right away. This is why it is important to take good care of your feet. ‚
General
Take care of your feet. ‚
- Wash your feet with warm water and soap each day and pat them dry. Dry skin between toes.
- Check your feet each day. Look for cuts, blisters, redness, or swelling. Use a mirror or ask someone to help you check the bottom of your feet. Be sure to check the:
- Tip of your big toe
- Place where your toe and the bottom of your foot meet
- Heel
- Outside edge of your foot
- Ball of your foot
- Keep feet moisturized. Put lotion on the tops and bottoms of your feet, but not between your toes.
- Trim your toenails straight across when needed. File rough edges. Ask for help if you cannot see well or have problems reaching your feet.
- Never cut calluses or corns
- Never soak your feet
- Ask your diabetes doctor to check your feet
- Take your shoes and socks off at every visit
Protect your feet from injury. ‚
- Wear shoes and socks at all times. Do not walk bare foot. Always wear shoes at the beach and around the swimming pool.
- Wear shoes that fit the right way and are not too tight or too loose. Check them each time before you put them on to make sure the lining is smooth. Also check to make sure there is nothing inside of the shoes before putting it on.
- Do not wear shoes that expose any part of the foot, like sandals, thongs, clogs.
- Wear socks made of cotton. Be sure your socks are not too tight. Do not wear shoes without socks.
- Protect your feet from hot and cold. Test bath water before putting your feet in it to make sure it is not too hot. Take extra care when going outside in the cold.
Exercise may help your blood flow. ‚
- Prop your feet up on a stool when sitting. Be sure to move your ankles and toes often to help with blood flow. You can wear a support stocking to help with swelling.
- Regular walking helps blood flow.
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What problems could happen?
- Damage to the feet because of loss of feeling
- Skin and soft tissue injury that may lead to amputation
- Serious infection
- Damage to foot joints or arch
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Take care of your blood sugar.
- Check your blood sugar each day. Know your blood sugar goals. Keep a record of your results.
- Note how you feel when your blood sugar is high versus when your blood sugar is within normal limits.
- Control your blood sugar with smaller portions of healthy food and by taking your antidiabetic drugs.
- Stop smoking.
- Smoking causes poor blood flow.
- Ask your doctor for help quitting.
- Limit alcohol use.
- Take care of your blood pressure and blood cholesterol.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, or a wound that will not heal.
- New sores or signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the wound.
- Sores or blisters that do not hurt as much as you would expect
- Numbness or tingling on the foot or legs
- Corns, calluses, blisters, or sores on your foot
- Excessive skin dryness, scaling, and cracking. This can be a sign of decreased blood flow to your feet.
- Changes in the way your foot joints or arch look
- Blood sugar is lower or higher than normal
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my feet.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have new sores or signs of infection.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00148 ‚
American Diabetes Association ‚
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/foot-complications/foot-care.html ‚
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse ‚
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_feet/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚