- Foot Care for the Diabetic
By Robyn Knapp
Proper foot care is very important
for people who are diabetic. People spend a great amount of time
on their feet. Knowledge of proper foot care can save the diabetic
individual from many future complications that can arise from
foot care neglect, such as open wounds, infection, and loss of
toe nails, poor circulation, peripheral neuropathy, septicemia
and gangrene. Diabetes causes poor circulation, which in turn
causes the diabetic individual a loss of sensation. The feet
are the farthest away from the heart and are therefore the most
susceptible to complications from injury.
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Using common sense and taking
some simple precautions will go a long way to promoting healthy
feet. Here is a list of some of
some healthy tips for diabetics regarding their foot care.
• Water should be tested
with the person’s hand, and should be
tepid not hot. Due to peripheral neuropathy, it is possible to
use water that is too hot and can cause injury to the tissue.
• Use soap that is gentle
on the skin, such as Ivory® or Dove®.
Antibacterial soaps can be harsh on the skin, cause allergic
reactions in some people.
• Instead of clipping the
toe nails, use an emery board.
Clipping the toe nails can lead to breaking the skin or ingrown
toe nails. |
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• See a podiatrist on a regular
basis, at least monthly. The podiatrist can clip the toe nails
and determine if there are any areas of concern.
• Wear foot coverings at
all times. Going barefoot can lead to unexpected injury from
foreign objects as well as bacterial infection. Sandals that
are open toed should be avoided. Always try to cover the entire
foot. Use slippers while in the home.
Be sure to have comfortable shoes.
Choose shoes that are a half size bigger and wide enough to accommodate
cotton socks. Leather
shoes are better than vinyl man made materials. The type of activity
that someone engages in usually dictates the type of shoes to
be worn. Comfort should be their priority. A diabetic may choose
not to wear socks with their tennis shoes while engaging in an
activity. If they are wearing shoes made of vinyl or leather,
their feet will sweat profusely. Sweat from feet, especially
in a slightly anaerobic environment (without oxygen) can become
acidic, rather than alkaline. The acid sweat can irritate the
skin and excoriate areas where there are sores beginning to form.
• Always use cotton socks.
Cotton absorbs sweat more than any other material. Avoid nylon
socks if possible.
• Avoid shoes that have
high heels. High heels will push the toes forward and can easily
cause ingrown toe nails and loss of feeling.
• Try to elevate the feet
during the day. Schedule daily rest periods. When elevating the
feet, try to keep the feet higher than the heart. This position
allows blood to flow easier and enhances circulation.
• Avoid perfumed lotions
on the feet. If dryness is a problem, use alcohol and perfumed
free lotions. Be sure to thoroughly massage all of lotion into
the foot, or dry off excess lotion.
• Dry feet thoroughly after
each washing and air out feet if possible during the day.
• Avoid standing for long
periods of time. Blood has a tendency to pool in the foot and
ankle area, making it harder to circulate back to the heart.
• Avoid activities that
can cause injury to the foot, such as soccer and football. If
those games cannot be avoided, then choose good foot protection.
Using proper foot care sense
with good hygiene can make living with diabetes easier and prevent
unnecessary complications that
could affect the quality of ones life.
References:
1. http://www.diabetes.org/
2. http://www.diabetes-exercise.org
3. http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_resources/
4. http://www.ChildrensDiabetesFdn.org
5. Dudek, Susan G., Nutrition Essentials for Nursing Practice,
5th ed., Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, copyright
2006 |
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