Q:
How to get foot care if you have diabetes?
A:
Between 60% and 70% of people with diabetes have diabetic neuropathy. You can have nerve damage in any part of your body, but nerves in your feet and legs are most often affected. Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet.
Here are some tips for healthy feet:
- Never go barefoot.
- Wear shoes that fit well.
- Get your feet checked at every health care visit.
- Don’t remove corns or calluses yourself, and especially don’t use over-the-counter products to remove them.
- Check your feet every day for cuts, redness, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, or any other change to the skin or nails.
- Wash your feet every day in warm water. Dry your feet completely and apply lotion to the top and bottom but not between your toes.
- Keep the blood flowing. Put your feet up when you’re sitting, and wiggle your toes for a few minutes several times throughout the day.
Be sure to ask your doctor what else you can do to keep your feet healthy.
Keyword: diabetes foot care
