A Podiatrist’s 7 Top Tips for People with Diabetes
It’s Diabetes Week from 14-20 July and since we treat many clients with Diabetes we thought we would give you our 7 top tips!
- Check your feet daily
Diabetes can effect the feeling in your feet. Cuts, blisters, or sores may occur without you noticing. It is very important that you do a visual check each day to make sure your feet are still in tip top shape. Most ulcers start as a simple cut or area of rubbing that went unchecked for too long. Catch the problem before it causes you any grief. - Choose your footwear carefully – When buying new shoes you want to make sure you pick the right ones for your feet! Be careful of any areas that could cause rubbing, blisters, or prominent seams. You also want to make sure the shoe is wide enough and long enough to prevent your feet being squished all day.
- Have a diabetes assessment every 12 months
It is very important to come and see us for an annual diabetes assessment. Diabetes can effect the blood flow to your feet and also cause nerve impairment (also known as peripheral neuropathy). An annual diabetes assessment ensures that any changes to your foot health is detected and addressed before it becomes a bigger issue. - Don’t leave anything for too long
If you find anything unusual during your daily foot check you need to see a podiatrist as soon as possible. Areas of rubbing, cuts, or wounds can turn nasty quickly. Diabetes can effect your immune response and healing time, meaning little things can turn into big problems if left untreated. If you find a new cut or wound make sure you take care of it properly and involve us if needed – even if it’s just a phone call for some advice! - Involve a team
When you’re first diagnosed with diabetes it can be overwhelming, especially when you’re told you should see a variety of health professionals. It’s very important to involve a team in your diabetes management to ensure you’re getting all the information and guidance you can get. Your team could include health professionals such as a podiatrist, GP, diabetes educator, optometrist, dietician, exercise physiologist, ophthalmologist, or an endocrinologist. - Watch your socks!
Socks can be a silent killer of feet. Often socks have prominent seams that can cause wounds if they rub on the feet or toes. Tight socks can effect the blood flow to the feet, causing issues with swelling or reduced blood flow. If socks are too loose they tend to slip down and cause pressure areas or rubbing as they bunch up. You also want to make sure your socks aren’t too thin as that could cause blisters! - Daily moisturiser
We say this all day, every day, to our patients. Daily application of moisturiser is very important! Diabetes can effect the moisture levels in your skin, leading to dry feet. This can easily turn into callous or cracks, increasing the likelihood of developing wounds. Applying a urea based moisturiser every day can help prevent dry, calloused, or cracked skin. Just make sure you don’t apply moisturiser in-between your toes as this can cause the skin to become macerated.
We hope this handy tips help keep those tootsies safe in between visits!
Kesia Ryan
Podiatrist