Patient Foot Care Guidelines

FOOTCARE GUIDELINES FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS

GENERAL CARE AND HYGIENE

FOOTWARE

• Never go barefooted

• Inspect your feet daily. Use a mirror any pay particular attention to soles and between toes. (If you have difficulty in doing this, get help from a family member.)

• Wash your feet daily. Test the water first with you hand or elbow to be sure it's not too hot.

• If your feet become excessively dry, lubricate them. (Spread thin film of moisturizing cream on the soles while still wet immediately after bathing. Take care not to get the cream between your toes.)

• Don't use garters or elastics to hold up stockings.

• Don't use panty girdles that are tight around the legs.

• Avoid exposing your feet to extremes.

— Do not walk on hot sand or pavement in the summer.

— Protect feet against sunburn with a sunscreen.

— Check temperature of bath water before bathing.

— Never use hot water bottles or heating pads to warm cold feet (wear socks at night in bed if feet feel cold).

— Beware of car heaters on long trips.

— Keep nails trim and cut straight across (don't round corners).

— Never cut corns or calluses yourself. (However with careful instruction from your physician, you can be taught how to work on calluses using pumice stones or emery boards if they aren't too thick.)

— Never uses commercial corn or callus removers, foot pads or arch support.

— Don't use adhesive tape on your feet.

— Don't "ice down" your feet if they feel hot.

— Never use hot or cold soaks for your feet.

— Keep toes clean and free of debris between them.

SHOES

• Buy only comfortable, well-fitting shoes. Have the clerk fit them for you, walk around in them and be sure they are comfortable immediately.

• Buy new shoes late in the day. Feet enlarge slightly during the day and shoes that fit in the morning may be too tight by noon.

• Choose shoes with soft leather uppers that can mold to the shape of your feet (modern walking or running shoes may be beneficial).

• Never buy shoes with open toes or heels.

• Never wear or buy sandals, particularly those with thongs between the toes.

• Have your doctor or podiatrist inspect new shoes to be sure of proper fit and construction.

• Never wear new shoes more than 2 hours at a time.

• Don't wear any shoes more than 5 hours at a time. You should have one pair for morning, one for the afternoon and one for evenings around the house.

• Never wear shoes without socks or stockings.

• Always inspect the inside of your shoes carefully before putting them on and after taking them off.

HOSIERY

• Never wear socks or stockings of 100% synthetic material. Proper materials include 100% cotton and blends. Wool should not be worn except in the winter, and then only if you are sure it is non-irritating. (Check with your physician or podiatrist for socks made specifically for diabetics.)

• Never wear socks or stockings with seams.

• Never wear socks or stockings with holes or mends.

• Wear only clean socks, and change them daily.

• Inspect socks or stockings carefully before and, particularly after, wearing them.