As a diabetic patient, you should know the importance of paying special attention to your feet with regard to cleanliness, the cutting of nails and the type of shoe that you wear and other matters concerning care of your feet.
NAILS
You are advised to use a special pair of nail clippers for toe nails; ordinary hand clippers are generally inadequate since toe nails are much thicker than finger nails. A good time to cut the nails is immediately after you have either washed yur feet or taken a bath. Always use the point of the nail clippers for guiding your cutting and make certain that you cut straight across the top of the nail. DO NOT, under any circumstances, cut the corners of your nails so short that you cut back into the nail groove. NEVER probe the nail groove or indeed any part of that area. If you do experience problems in cutting your toe nails or you suffer any pain, consult your practitioner.
CORNS & CALLUSES
It is important that corns and calluses or any other conditions be treated by a practitioner.
WASHING & DRYING
Wash your feet regularly each day in warm water; the water should be neither too hot nor too cold. Rinse the skin well and gently pat dry around the toes with a soft towel or tissue.
GENERAL DOS & DON'TS
Avoid extremes of heat particularly in baths: Bath water should be just comfortable and you should not soak in it. The water temperature should not exceed 110 degrees fahrenheit; to test this it is more reliable to use a thermometer than to test it with your arm or hand. As you may know, with your condition, your reaction to extremes of temperature might not be as good as is normal.
Avoid hot water bottles, if you use an electric blanket be sure to remove it before you get into bed. Avoid lengthy exposure to dampness or cold.
If your skin is dry then gently massage a little moistruizing lotion on the skin after bathing your feet; avoid rubbing hard. If your skin is moist, ensure that you keep it clean especially between the toes and then dry with a good quality talcum powder. NEVER use any strong antiseptic solution such as iodine or any so-called 'corn cures'. Many of these 'corn-cures' contain a corrosive substance which will damage normal healthy sking; the risk to your skin is obviously far greater.
Avoid using adhesive strapping directly over a wound. In the event of minor injury, apply a mild antiseptic solution or savlon and use ordinary sterilized gauze to cover the wound. Be sure to use an antiseptic solution and make sure that you always use clean and sterile gauze.
Do watch your feet for any signs of changes. You should seek professional advice from your practitioner if you notice any pain in your feet particularly from swellings or, if you find fluid seeping from a break or a crack in the skin or beneath a corn or toe nail or if you notice any change in the tissue or colour of your lower limbs.
A feature of your condition is that you may not feel pain or cold as well as other people. For this reason, it is important that you take great care of your feet and make sure that they ae not affected since you rely upon them so much. If in doubt at any time, consult a qualified practitioner.