Foot Care and Diabetes
If you have diabetes, taking care of your feet daily is crucial. Diabetes can damage the nerves in your feet, leading to poor blood circulation and a higher risk of serious complications like foot ulcers. Shockingly, amputations are 15 times more common in people with diabetes.
Creams to Treat Burning Feet
The risk of foot problems increases if:
– You’ve had diabetes for a long time.
– Your blood glucose levels have been high for a long time.
– You smoke, which reduces blood flow to your feet and slows wound healing.
– You’re not active.
Self-Checks
Checking your feet every day at home can prevent complications. Seek medical treatment immediately if you notice any of the following:
– Ulcers
– Unusual swelling
– Redness
– Blisters
– Ingrown nails
– Bruising or cuts
Seek medical treatment within a week if you notice:
– Broken skin between toes
– Calluses
– Corns
– Changes in foot shape
– Cracked skin
– Changes in nail colour
For a thorough foot assessment, see your Podiatrist at least once a year to reduce your risk of lower limb complications
Poor Blood Supply
High blood glucose levels over time can reduce blood supply to your feet, increasing the risk of infection. Watch for signs of poor blood supply, such as:
– Sharp leg cramps after walking short distances or climbing stairs
– Pain in your feet, even at rest or in the early morning
– Cold feet
– Feet with a reddish-blue colour
– Cuts that are slow to heal
If you have any of these symptoms, see your Podiatrist.
Professional Checks
Your Podiatrist can perform easy and painless checks to assess your feet. During your check-up, they will look at:
– Blood flow to your feet (circulation)
– Feeling and reflexes (nerves)
– Unusual foot shapes (bunions, claw toes, hammer toes)
– Toenails
– Dryness, calluses, corns, cracks, or infections
If you have misshapen feet and nerve damage, you’re more likely to develop:
– Ulcers from too much pressure on certain areas of the feet
– Corns and calluses from pressure on one area
A Podiatrist can remove calluses or corns before they become ulcers, preventing infection and amputation.
Caring for Your Feet
Here are our top tips for caring for your feet:
1. Get Your Feet Checked: See your Podiatrist at least once a year for a thorough foot exam.
2. Know Your Feet Well: Wash, dry, and check your feet every day. Look for redness, swelling, cuts, pus, splinters, or blisters. Check between your toes, around your heels, nail edges, and the soles of your feet. If you have difficulty seeing, ask someone to help.
3. Cut Your Toenails Straight Across: Don’t cut into the corners. Gently file any sharp edges. Ask for help if you can’t see well or reach your feet.
4. Moisturise: Do this daily to avoid dry skin.
5. Avoid Over-the-Counter Corn Cures: Ask your Podiatrist for advice instead.
6. Cover Your Feet: Use clean socks or stockings without rough seams.
7. Avoid Tight Socks or Stockings
8. Protect Your Feet: Wear well-fitting shoes. Make sure they’re the right length (a thumb width longer than your longest toe), width, and depth, and check for stones, pins, or anything else that could cause injury.
9. Stay Cool: Keep your feet away from direct heat like heaters, hot water bottles, and electric blankets.
10. Get Medical Advice Early.
What to Do If You Have an Injury
If you find a cut, blister, sore, red area, or open crack, immediately:
– Wash and dry the area.
– Apply a good antiseptic like Betadine.
– Cover with a sterile dressing from a pharmacy.
If the injury doesn’t improve within 24 hours, make an urgent appointment to see your doctor. Prompt action can help you avoid serious complications.
Seek urgent medical care for even the mildest foot infection, including:
– Any sore
– An open wound or crack that is oozing and contains pus
– Any discharge that doesn’t heal within a week
Rebates
– Medicare: May provide a rebate on Podiatrist fees if you have a chronic condition and are referred by your doctor.
– Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Gold Card Holders: Entitled to free Podiatry services from private Podiatrists.
– Private Health Funds: Cover some Podiatry services.
Taking care of your feet is a vital part of managing diabetes. By following these tips and seeking regular professional care, you can keep your feet healthy and avoid serious complications.