Your feet already need to be taken care of, but when you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, your feet and skin need extra care and attention.
Very small, repetitive injuries to the feet — like those caused by poorly fitting shoes — can lead to BIG problems. Calluses, blisters, sores, infections, and foot ulcers may appear on numb areas of the foot, because pressure or injury goes unnoticed. This happens simply because you can’t feel the problem.
Also, people with uncontrolled diabetes have a hard time fighting infections. They may also have poor circulation that can lead to problems with healing. That means a minor cut in the skin could become an ulcer or develop into a serious infection. With good foot care, you can prevent most of these problems.
Here are 8 great everyday foot care habits to follow:
A. Inspect feet daily. Wash your feet, and then thoroughly dry them. Use a handheld mirror (like a magnifying mirror) to inspect them. Look for blisters, cuts, cracks, dry skin, redness, tenderness, or sores on the skin, between the toes, and on the soles of your feet.
B. Powder in between your toes. This helps keep that moist skin dry and helps prevent fungal infections. Be sure that it’s not talcum based powder.
C. Rub lotion on feet and legs to prevent dry cracked skin. But don’t put lotion between the toes because of the risk of fungal infections.