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DIABETIC FOOT CARE
Self-Care at Home
Foot Check: Inspect your feet daily, especially after minor injuries. Report any issues to your doctor. Use water-based moisturizer daily (avoiding between toes) to prevent dry skin and cracks. Opt for cotton or wool socks over elastic ones to maintain good circulation.
Clear the Way: Remove or reposition items that could cause tripping or bumping. Keep your surroundings tidy and well-lit, both indoors and outdoors, especially at night.
Toenail Care: Use safety clippers, not scissors, to trim your nails. Cut them straight across, leaving space from the nailbed. If you struggle, consult your doctor or train a family member for safe trimming.
Proper Footwear: Choose sturdy, comfortable shoes to protect your feet. Consult a podiatrist (foot specialist) for fitting advice or shop at stores catering to diabetics. Specific foot conditions might require prescription shoes or inserts.
Exercise: Regular physical activity benefits foot and leg health, circulation, and helps stabilize blood sugar levels. Consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.
Quit Smoking: Quitting significantly reduces foot problems. Smoking damages blood vessels, especially small ones, leading to poor circulationβa significant risk for foot infections and amputations.
Diabetes Management: Maintain a proper diet, take prescribed medications, monitor blood sugar, exercise regularly, and communicate with your doctor for effective diabetes control. Consistent blood sugar control greatly reduces the risk of nerve, kidney, eye, and blood vessel damage.
Follow-up
Read and understand all instructions from your doctor. Ask questions if instructions are unclear. Follow your doctor's guidance, and inform them if your condition doesn't improve as expected.
Complete the full course of prescribed antibiotics. Incomplete courses can lead to antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
Improvements like reduced pain, swelling, redness, warmth, or drainage indicate progress in wound healing. Wound shrinkage is a positive sign. The absence of fever is generally good. Some improvement should be noticeable within the first 2-3 days. If not, inform your doctor.
While healing, prioritize diabetes care. Good blood sugar control is crucial for current ulcer healing and future ulcer prevention. Regularly monitor blood sugar and report any patterns of low or high levels to your doctor.
Prevention
Preventing diabetic foot problems involves multiple factors.
- Good diabetes control
- Regular leg and foot self-examinations
- Knowledge of how to recognize problems
- Choosing proper footwear
- Regular exercise, if able
- Avoiding injury by keeping footpaths clear
- Having your doctor examine your feet at least once a year using a monofilament, a device made of nylon string that tests sensation