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Your Health Checklist: Protecting Your Feet OO
Your Health Checklist: Protecting Your Feet OODiabetes can affect the health of your feet.High blood sugar, also called high blood glucose, can cause neuropathy and poor circulation, which can lead to loss of feeling in your feet or slower healing.Follow this checklist to learn how to protect your feet.Do: Select a shoe that supports your entire foot, is wide enough to relieve pressure, and gives your foot plenty of room.Do: Choose a shoe that has: a heel of 1 to 1 and a half inches or lower; A soft, absorbent liner; A toe box that extends a half inch beyond the end of your toes; And a heel compartment snug enough to prevent rubbing.Do: Buy your shoes in the afternoon to ensure a proper fit.Feet swell during the day so if you buy shoes in the morning, by evening, they may be too tight.Do: Have your feet measured each time you buy new shoes and always try on both shoes before you make a purchase.Do: Talk to your diabetes care team or podiatrist if you have trouble finding shoes.Do: Break in new shoes gradually to avoid blisters.Do: Check with your insurance company; some footwear may be covered by your plan.Do Not: Forget about your socks. Socks play an important role in protecting your feet.Choose ones that keep their shape, absorb and draw moisture away from your skin (some labels may say ‘wick”), and don’t have tight fitting elastic bands or seams inside.Do Not: Go barefoot, or in socks, even inside your house. Slippers may be appropriate at times, but they too should cover and protect your entire foot.Do Not: Forget to wear shower or water shoes in a pool or at the beach.Do Not: Forget to keep your toenails trimmed. Trim your toenails straight across to help avoid ingrown toenails.If you have difficulty seeing your toes, reaching them, or keeping your hands steady enough to trim them, ask someone to do it for you.Protecting your feet each day and in every situation, will help prevent damage. If you have any questions contact your diabetes care team or podiatrist.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.© [year of first publication] WebMD Ignite
Learn how to prevent foot problems when you have diabetes.
Watch this to learn why regular skin and foot exams are important when you have diabetes.
Watch this to learn how to keep your skin healthy and safe when you have diabetes.
Diabetes can lead to a number of foot complications. Fortunately, you can prevent most of these with a little extra foot care. Read on to learn more.
