Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetes is a disorder that can involve a lot of daily maintenance to continue an active and healthy lifestyle. It’s crucial for diabetics to receive professional guidance and excellent care, especially in examining and treating symptoms affecting ankles and feet.
The specialists at Ankle & Foot Associates are experienced in providing superior diabetic foot care for their patients. Expert physicians at Ankle & Foot Associates understand the challenges and necessary maintenance that are tied to diabetes.
Trimming toenails and removing calluses or corns are just some of the diabetic foot care services the physicians at Ankle & Foot Associates assist patients with. It’s also very important to contact Ankle & Foot Associates immediately if a diabetic patient experiences any injury to his or her feet. Even a minor injury is an emergency for a patient with diabetes.
Below are some additional diabetic foot care tips from the specialists at Ankle & Foot Associates:
- Don't use any tape or sticky products such as corn plasters on your feet. They can rip your skin.
- In the winter, wear warm socks and protective footwear. Avoid getting your feet wet in the snow and rain and avoid letting your toes get cold.
- DO NOT SMOKE. It decreases the blood supply to your feet.
- Buy shoes late in the day. Never buy shoes that need "breaking in." They should be immediately comfortable. Do not wear new shoes more than two hours at a time. Rotate your shoes. Do not wear the same ones every day.
- Ask our specialists about soaking your feet
- Do not use any chemicals or strong antiseptic solutions on your feet. Iodine, salicylic acid, corn/callus removers are dangerous.
- Do not wear stockings or socks with tight elastic backs and do not use garters. Do not wear any socks with holes. Always wear shoes with socks.
- Examine your feet daily for redness, warmth, blisters, ulcers, scratches, cuts and nail problems from shoes or other sources. Look at the bottoms and between toes. Use a mirror or have someone else look for you.
- Examine your shoes for foreign objects, protruding nails and rough spots inside before putting them on.
- Keep feet away from heat (heating pads, hot water pads, electric blankets, radiators, fireplaces). You can burn your feet without knowing it. Water temperature should be less than 92 degrees. Estimate with your elbow or bath thermometer (you can get one in any store that sells infant products).
- Lubricate your entire foot if your skin is dry, but avoid putting cream between toes.
- NEVER walk barefoot, neither indoors nor out.
Ankle & Foot Associates offer superior diabetic foot care. To receive more information about specific diabetic foot care, or to schedule a consultation at one of our eight South Georgia locations, please call (912) 330-2771.
