More information about managing your diabetes is available separately. Tehniques can also technqiues your Diabetic foot care techniques or podiatrist about Ac and hormonal balance favorite running or athletic shoe store Diabetic foot care techniques or pharmacies that carry diabetes and compression socks. org About ACFAS View this page in: English English Spanish. With progression, the patient may start to notice decreased sensation in their upper extremities in a stocking-glove distribution. Dirty feet that are injured are more prone to infection, so cleanliness is critical. Chapter V: Diabetic foot.

Diabetic foot care techniques -

Learn more about diabetes and your feet. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search. Español Other Languages. Tips for Healthy Feet. Minus Related Pages. Larger version Twitter × Facebook × Most people with diabetes can prevent serious foot problems.

Wash your feet every day in warm not hot water and dry them well. Never go barefoot , even inside. It may not seem directly related to your feet, but working with your diabetes health care team to properly monitor and control blood glucose levels will work to keep your feet healthy as well.

Because of this, check your feet daily for any signs of injury. If you notice red spots, bleeding, cuts, swelling, bruises or blisters, have these areas checked by your podiatrist.

Use a mirror, if needed, to check them. Wash your feet daily, even if you don't shower daily. Dirty feet that are injured are more prone to infection, so cleanliness is critical. After washing, dry your feet thoroughly, including between the toes.

Then, apply skin lotion to the tops and bottoms of your feet. Leave the area between the toes lotion-free. Patients with diabetic neuropathy should never walk barefoot. Also, it gets quite cold here in Worcester, so proper footwear will keep your feet protected from cold temperatures.

Wear shoes and socks at all times. When at home, wear house slippers to provide your feet with proper protection. Before putting shoes on, check inside the shoe to ensure there is nothing sharp that could injure your feet.

By losing weight and maintaining a healthy BMI, you can better control you sugar levels and also reduce complications to your feet.

Regular exercise can help you keep your weight down and improve the circulation in your feet. Walking is an excellent way for Diabetic patients to exercise.

There are countless medical reasons to stop smoking, and Diabetes is towards the top of the list. Smoking decreases your circulation, which can lead to more Diabetic foot problems.

If you smoke and are having trouble quitting, ask your doctor or your podiatrist for help getting into a smoking cessation program. Every time you buy a new pair of shoes, you should go to a professional shoe store where a knowledgeable sales representative can measure the length and width of your feet to get you a shoe with a comfortable fit.

Additionally, Diabetics should never wear high heels, sandals especially those with a strap between the big toe and second toe and pointy shoes. These types of shoes put more pressure on parts of the foot and contribute to Diabetic ulcers.

To protect your feet from small scrapes, cuts, and blisters that can turn into something more severe, you should always wear shoes or slippers around the house, and you should never go barefoot outside. All Diabetics should monitor their alcohol intake to keep their blood sugar levels at a safe rate.

Alcohol use can speed up the effects of Diabetic Neuropathy, causing more nerve damage. You should wear socks with an acrylic blend, and avoid mended socks or socks with seams, which can cause blisters.

Diabetics are already prone to poor circulation, so you should never wear anything too tight around your legs or feet. It may be tempting to try and take care of a pesky foot issue by yourself. Diabetics should always see a podiatrist for help with removing calluses, warts, corns, ulcers or other foot conditions.

If you have any questions about Diabetic foot care , call Dr. Please be aware that this is not a secure email network under HIPAA guidelines. Do not submit any personal or private information unless you are authorized and have voluntarily consented to do so. We are not liable for any HIPAA violations.

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Diabetic Diabetic foot care techniques caee is essential as cars can techhniques dangerous to techniquess feet—even a small cut can produce serious consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve Metabolism boosting smoothies that takes away foot feeling in Diabetic foot care techniques feet. Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection. Because of these problems, you may not notice a foreign object in your shoe. As a result, you could develop a blister or a sore. This could lead to an infection or a nonhealing wound that could put you at risk for an amputation.

Diabetic foot care techniques -

Be sure to get regular foot exams — Checking for foot-related complications should be a routine part of most medical visits; however, this is sometimes overlooked. Don't hesitate to ask your provider for a foot check at least once a year, or more frequently if you have risk factors or notice any changes.

See 'Clinical exams' above and 'Risk factors' above. Quit smoking — Smoking can worsen heart and circulation problems and reduce circulation to the feet. If you smoke, quitting is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health and reduce your risk of complications.

While this can be difficult, your health care provider can help you and provide other resources for support. See "Patient education: Quitting smoking Beyond the Basics ".

Importance of blood sugar management — In general, you can reduce your risk of all diabetes-related complications, including foot problems, by keeping your blood sugar levels as close to your target as possible.

Careful management of blood sugar levels can reduce the risk of circulation problems and nerve damage that often lead to foot complications. Managing your blood sugar requires seeing your doctor regularly, making healthy diet and lifestyle changes, and taking your medications as directed. More information about managing your diabetes is available separately.

See "Patient education: Type 1 diabetes: Insulin treatment Beyond the Basics " and "Patient education: Type 2 diabetes: Treatment Beyond the Basics " and "Patient education: Glucose monitoring in diabetes Beyond the Basics " and "Patient education: Preventing complications from diabetes Beyond the Basics ".

TREATMENT OF FOOT ULCERS. Superficial ulcers — Superficial ulcers involve only the top layers of skin picture 1. Treatment usually includes cleaning the ulcer and removing dead skin and tissue by a health care provider; this is called "debridement.

After debridement, the area will be covered with a dressing to keep it clean and moist. If the foot is infected, you will get antibiotics. You should clean the ulcer and apply a clean dressing twice daily or as instructed by your foot care provider; you may need to have someone help you with this.

Keep weight off the affected foot as much as possible and elevate it when you are sitting or lying down. Depending on the location of the ulcer, you might also get a cast or other device to take pressure off the area when you walk.

Your health care provider should check your ulcer at least once per week to make sure that it is healing properly. More extensive ulcers — Ulcers that extend into the deeper layers of the foot, involving muscle and bone picture 4 , usually require treatment in the hospital.

Laboratory tests and X-rays may be done, and intravenous IV antibiotics are often given. In addition to debridement to remove dead skin and tissue, surgery may be necessary to remove infected bone. You may also get something called "negative pressure wound therapy"; this involves covering the ulcer with a bandage and using a special vacuum device to help increase blood flow and speed healing.

If part of the toes or foot become severely damaged, causing areas of dead tissue gangrene , partial or complete amputation may be required. Amputation is reserved for wounds that do not heal despite aggressive treatment, or times when health is threatened by the gangrene.

Untreated gangrene can be life threatening. Some people with severe foot ulcers and peripheral vascular disease poor circulation may require a procedure to restore blood flow to the foot.

See "Patient education: Peripheral artery disease and claudication Beyond the Basics ". While foot problems in diabetes are common and can be serious, keep in mind that there are things you can do to help prevent them. Quitting smoking, if you smoke, is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health and to prevent foot problems.

In addition, while daily self-care can be challenging, managing your diabetes from day to day, including foot care, is the best way to reduce your risk of developing complications. See 'Preventing foot problems in diabetes' above. Your health care provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem.

This article will be updated as needed on our website www. Related topics for patients, as well as selected articles written for health care professionals, are also available.

Some of the most relevant are listed below. Patient level information — UpToDate offers two types of patient education materials. The Basics — The Basics patient education pieces answer the four or five key questions a patient might have about a given condition.

These articles are best for patients who want a general overview and who prefer short, easy-to-read materials. Patient education: Type 2 diabetes The Basics Patient education: Nerve damage caused by diabetes The Basics Patient education: The ABCs of diabetes The Basics Patient education: Gangrene The Basics Patient education: Diabetes and infections The Basics.

Beyond the Basics — Beyond the Basics patient education pieces are longer, more sophisticated, and more detailed. These articles are best for patients who want in-depth information and are comfortable with some medical jargon.

Patient education: Type 1 diabetes: Overview Beyond the Basics Patient education: Exercise and medical care for people with type 2 diabetes Beyond the Basics Patient education: Type 2 diabetes: Overview Beyond the Basics Patient education: Hypoglycemia low blood glucose in people with diabetes Beyond the Basics Patient education: Preventing complications from diabetes Beyond the Basics Patient education: Diabetic neuropathy Beyond the Basics Patient education: Glucose monitoring in diabetes Beyond the Basics Patient education: Quitting smoking Beyond the Basics Patient education: Peripheral artery disease and claudication Beyond the Basics.

Professional level information — Professional level articles are designed to keep doctors and other health professionals up-to-date on the latest medical findings. These articles are thorough, long, and complex, and they contain multiple references to the research on which they are based.

Professional level articles are best for people who are comfortable with a lot of medical terminology and who want to read the same materials their doctors are reading. Screening for diabetic polyneuropathy Evaluation of the diabetic foot Management of diabetic foot ulcers.

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View Topic. Font Size Small Normal Large. Patient education: Foot care for people with diabetes Beyond the Basics. Formulary drug information for this topic. No drug references linked in this topic.

Find in topic Formulary Print Share. Author: Deborah J Wexler, MD, MSc Section Editor: David M Nathan, MD Deputy Editor: Katya Rubinow, MD Contributor Disclosures.

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. Literature review current through: Jan This topic last updated: Feb 01, RISK FACTORS Over time, diabetes that is not carefully managed can lead to foot complications.

TREATMENT OF FOOT ULCERS If you do get a foot ulcer, the treatment will depend on how extensive the damage is. Patient education: Type 2 diabetes The Basics Patient education: Nerve damage caused by diabetes The Basics Patient education: The ABCs of diabetes The Basics Patient education: Gangrene The Basics Patient education: Diabetes and infections The Basics Beyond the Basics — Beyond the Basics patient education pieces are longer, more sophisticated, and more detailed.

Patient education: Type 1 diabetes: Overview Beyond the Basics Patient education: Exercise and medical care for people with type 2 diabetes Beyond the Basics Patient education: Type 2 diabetes: Overview Beyond the Basics Patient education: Hypoglycemia low blood glucose in people with diabetes Beyond the Basics Patient education: Preventing complications from diabetes Beyond the Basics Patient education: Diabetic neuropathy Beyond the Basics Patient education: Glucose monitoring in diabetes Beyond the Basics Patient education: Quitting smoking Beyond the Basics Patient education: Peripheral artery disease and claudication Beyond the Basics Professional level information — Professional level articles are designed to keep doctors and other health professionals up-to-date on the latest medical findings.

Screening for diabetic polyneuropathy Evaluation of the diabetic foot Management of diabetic foot ulcers The following organizations also provide reliable health information.

It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient.

It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances.

Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications.

This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. All rights reserved.

Topic Feedback. Trim your toenails Correct shoe shape. Trim your toenails. Correct shoe shape. Superficial diabetic foot ulcer Full thickness diabetic foot ulcer and claw toe Charcot arthropathy Deep diabetic foot ulcer involving bone. Superficial diabetic foot ulcer. Treatment can involve surgery to amputate a toe, foot, or part of a leg.

A doctor should examine your feet at every visit and do a thorough foot exam once a year. If you have a history of foot problems, you should be checked more often. Your health care provider should also give you information on foot care and answer all your questions.

Report any corns, calluses, sores, cuts, bruises, infections, or foot pain. If necessary, your doctor can recommend a podiatrist who specializes in diabetic foot care or give you information about special shoes that may help.

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Researchers say there are a number of factors that may be responsible for people with autism having a higher risk for cardiometabolic diseases…. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Your Guide to Diabetes Foot Care. Medically reviewed by Adam Hotchkiss, DPM — By Ann Pietrangelo — Updated on April 13, Daily care Healthy foot habits Toenails Footwear Symptoms Complications Visiting the doctor Why is foot care important?

Daily foot care. Healthy foot habits. Toenail care. Signs and symptoms of foot problems. Potential complications. Visiting the doctor. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

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Apr 13, Written By Ann Pietrangelo. Apr 4, Medically Reviewed By Adam Hotchkiss, DPM. Share this article. Read this next. Do I Need Diabetic Shoes? Medically reviewed by Peggy Pletcher, M. Can Your Foot Shape Reveal Your Personality or Your Ancestry?

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