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Practical Self Treatment Tips For Diabetes Footcare

✅ Evidence-based | By DMP Nutritionists | 21 Comments
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Diabetic Foot Problems
  • Diabetic Footcare
  • Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines+−
    • Basic Footcare Items
    • Footcare Guidelines
  • FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Diabetic Foot Care Products+−
    • Mirror
    • Foot Bath
    • Nail Clippers
    • Foot Cleaning
  • Diabetic Foot Cream
  • Diabetic Footwear
  • Foot Cramps and Diabetes
  • Good Blood Sugar Control
diabetic foot care joke

Diabetes Meal Plans is predominantly a foodie site, but we also like to share important health tips that can help you too. Proper foot care in diabetes is critical!

There are multiple complications associated with diabetes, none of us really like to talk about these things. But we really need to because many of them can be avoided and prevented – such as foot problems that can lead to very serious consequences.

The information below will provide more education about diabetes foot treatment so you can take care of yourself.

Diabetic Foot Problems

Did you know that diabetes is the leading cause of lower limb amputations?

With diabetes, lower extremity conditions such as peripheral arterial disease, peripheral neuropathy, foot ulceration, and lower amputations are some of the most common and serious complication with diabetes. 

Foot ulcers account for 30-50% of amputations, which is why we are going to go over a foot care routine because foot ulcers can be monitored and caught early if they do develop.

The reason why foot ulcers are such a problem is they often lead to infection, deeper development of the ulcer, gangrene and then finally amputation. No, it’s not a pretty picture but researchers agree that the key is to prevent foot ulcers.

Foot ulcers often develop due to peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy occurs when there is some type of damage or dysfunction to the nerves that provide sensation to our limbs and send messages back and forth throughout our body. We have nerves everywhere that connect to the spinal cord and brain, the network of nerves is how our body communicates signals.

With diabetes, people often experience numbness, tingling or pain in their feet or lower limbs when this occurs in the lower region.

When you lose sensory awareness in your foot, pressure on different areas of the foot can cause a bit of wear and tear that damages the skin and then leads to an ulcer. Nicks, cuts, scratches, and other things can also lead to ulcers, so you really need to be aware of this and do your foot checks.

Diabetic Footcare

The good thing is that researchers have discovered that regular monitoring by you and a podiatrist or doctor can reduce the rate of amputations by 75%. That’s well worth the effort, which is why we wanted to share this info with you.

What you need to do is develop a footcare routine for yourself.

This should involve simple daily checks, a more detailed weekly check, and a 3-6 month check up with your doctor or podiatrist. Get them to check your feet for you as well, just so you don’t miss anything.

Practical Self Treatment Tips For Diabetes Foot Treatment

Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines

To protect yourself from diabetic foot disease, there are certain things to look out for and a routine you can do.

Here’s a checklist of things that you and your health care practitioner should look out for:

  • calluses or deformities
  • claw toes
  • poor feeling
  • decreased blood flow
  • reflexes
  • bunions
  • hammer toes
  • calluses
  • corns
  • cracks
  • infections
  • nail condition – look out for fungal infections, changes in the color or odor of nails
  • ingrown toenails
  • dry skin
  • any prominent veins that might appear
  • cuts, splits, sores, blisters, or any breaks in the skin
  • swelling, pain, or redness
  • unusual discoloration

Take notice of all and any changes in your feet.

Basic Footcare Items

  • Mirror
  • Footcare cream
  • Foot bath
  • Nail clippers

Footcare Guidelines

Position yourself in an area where there is plenty of light.

Use the checklist above to examine both feet carefully, start from the top of your foot and look at the toes, between the toes, and the borders of your feet.

Use your mirror and examine the soles of the feet, behind the heel, and the underside of the toes and between the toes – carefully looking out for any abnormalities or even anything that might be slightly different than usual.

You should conduct this detailed footcare routine at least once per week.

You do need to clip the toenails on a regular basis, as long toenails can pierce the skin.

It’s important to use nail clippers to cut your toenails as they are safer than scissors. With scissors it’s easier to slip and cause small cuts in the skin that can lead to infection. Nail clippers are less likely to do this. But if you have difficulty reaching your feet, or have concerns about clipping them yourself, then visit a podiatrist on a regular basis and have them done professionally.

You need a footbath to wash and clean your feet every day using warm water and a specialized solution or antibacterial soap, then thoroughly dry the feet. Make sure you dry between the toes and pat the skin rather than rub it.

You also want to avoid cracks, particularly in the heels of the feet, so applying foot cream on a daily basis is also a good idea – it helps to keep the skin moist.

Think of this as a pamper session rather than a chore!

FREE DOWNLOAD

CLICK HERE to download a copy of this daily routine and checklist so you can keep it handy for reference.

Diabetic Foot Care Products

Mirrormagnifying-mirror

handheld-mirror

A simple handheld mirror is all you need to use to do your checks.

Or if you struggle to reach your feet or want a closer look, try something like the Floxite LED Lit Mirror with 10 x magnification. You can just put it on the floor, it has built in lighting, and gives you that extra magnification for a closer look. It’s also a handy travel design so you can take it with you everywhere you go.

telescopic-mirror

Or a telescopic mirror with a retractable handle can be a great option for looking more closely at those hard to reach places.

foot-bucketFoot Bathfoot-spa

You can just get a simple foot soak bucket so you can gently wash your feet in warm water every day.

Or if you prefer, you can get a comfy foot spa. Personally I prefer the foot bucket, it’s easier to clean and you really don’t need all the bells and whistles.

The most important thing is that you have something your feet fit into, not just a small bucket that’s awkward to use.

Nail Clippers

Try a pair of clippers with a magnifier for that bit of extra help. And if you’re unsure how to cut your nails properly, ask your podiatrist to give you a demonstration. Perhaps I can get my son to make us a video sometime.

nail-clippers

Foot Cleaning

When you clean your feet every day you can use a specialized foot soak solution.

Or, use a tea tree soap. Tea tree is a natural antiseptic and anti-fungal and will do the job just fine.

tea-tree-soap

foot-creamDiabetic Foot Creamfoot-care-cream-for-cracks

Go for a specially designed footcare cream that is fragrance free for your daily applications. There are lots of them on the market ranging from $4-10.

If you find you have dry skin, use a repair cream that helps with deep hydration because avoiding dry cracked skin is very important.

Keep your eyes out for a multi-pupose footcare pack that includes a foot soak, power, and moisturiser. You’ll often save some money when you buy them like this.

Tips for diabetes foot treatment

Diabetic Footwear

Another thing to consider is your footwear.

You want comfortable shoes that are wide fit and don’t cut into your feet in any way.

You also want to wear shoes at all times, especially when you are outside the house. Don’t go barefoot, it just puts you at risk for nicks, cuts, and abrasions.

Also be careful with the type of open shoes you wear. Flip flops aren’t a good choice, while a comfortable, half enclosed sandal is a better choice.

And if you find you do have any foot issues. Go to a podiatrist for the best recommendations on orthotics and footwear inserts. It’s best not to try to guess this stuff yourself when your feet are such an important issue.

Foot Cramps and Diabetes

Foot cramps can be quite common in diabetes. Often this is due to a magnesium deficiency or even dehydration.

It’s been shown that getting adequate magnesium can help with diabetic neuropathy, a common problem with feet – so that might be your first line of action. Start by including more magnesium rich foods and perhaps a supplement – read this post for more info about that.

Muscle fatigue and stress is also another cause, which is why you want to wear comfortable shoes. And after your daily foot soak, give your feet a gentle massage while you apply your foot care cream. Massaging the soles of the feet helps loosen up the muscles – particularly the plantar fascia muscle that runs along the arch of your foot from your heel to your toes.

Make sure you drink enough water. We need water to distribute electrolytes and nutrients to the muscles, lubricate joints, and reduce inflammation.

Good Blood Sugar Control

Most importantly, don’t forget to focus on lowering blood sugar levels and controlling them over the long term. High blood sugar is what contributes most to complications occurring in the first place.

So eat a healthy diet, focus on eating the right type of carbohydrates, and do at least 15 minutes of exercise every day.

So there you have it. There’s lots of great diabetes foot treatment tips there. The most important thing is to do those checks every day or at the very least, every week.

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💬 21 Comments - Join the conversation, leave yours below

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary McQueen

    07/23/2022 at 8:30 am

    Can you recommend a good podiatrist in the Pickering, Ajax, Whitby area in Toronto?

    Reply
    • Emily - Dietitian (MS, RD)

      07/24/2022 at 9:11 am

      We support clients across the globe and do not have such recommendations readily available. Your endocrinologist, or any other physician you see, should be able to make a recommendation if you ask.

      Reply
  2. Dee

    01/05/2019 at 5:44 pm

    I was diagnosed with diabetes last year and have struggled to learn, accept and implement appropriate actions re the diagnosis. Your website is most helpful and I thank you for the information. I can use all the help you can give.

    Reply
    • Emily - Dietitian (MS, RD)

      01/06/2019 at 4:55 pm

      Thank you for your kind words, Dee.

      Diabetes can be daunting at first, but you will continue to grow as a person from it and learn how to best manage your disease. Keep up the great work and just drop a comment if you ever have any questions or need some extra motivation.

      Reply
  3. Rama Rao

    07/25/2018 at 3:14 pm

    Nice presentation.thank you

    Reply
  4. Mary

    06/26/2018 at 7:24 pm

    I just found out I have diabetes and have nail fungus on one foot… anything that really works on this?

    Reply
    • Emily - Dietitian (MS, RD)

      06/26/2018 at 9:54 pm

      Hi Mary, I am not sure of specific products for toe fungus, but as you just read in this article it’s crucial to take care of your feet ASAP! If you can’t find an effective over-the-counter medication, then definitely schedule an appointment with a podiatrist soon.

      Reply
  5. Jay

    04/02/2018 at 3:28 pm

    Do the shoes need to be wide fit? I like something that supports my arch pretty well. And will running shoes help or should I get something that is built more for something else, like a dress shoe?

    Reply
    • Emily - Dietitian (MS, RD)

      04/03/2018 at 8:24 pm

      Jay, you may consider going to a podiatrist for recommendations on the best fit for you. A supportive arch isn’t a problem, but the idea is that the shoes shouldn’t be too tight (hence the wide fit) or rub anywhere that could potentially cause open skin. Although it will probably be easier to find a running shoe that meets these criteria, you certainly will want to find a good pair of comfortable dress shoes for times that an occasion calls for such.

      Reply
  6. Linda

    09/15/2017 at 6:32 am

    I am interested in any information regarding Duputren’s disease in the feet.
    It may be a diabetic related disease. Seems to be for Nordic genetic peoples
    but I cannot find how the development goes over time and consequences.

    Thank you ever so much.

    Reply
    • Jedha

      09/15/2017 at 4:48 pm

      Sorry Linda, unfortunately I’m not aware of that condition. Perhaps ask a podiatrist, they would be able to help.

      Reply
  7. Pat Odoms

    09/15/2017 at 2:47 am

    Thanks Jedha for the great article. I learned a lot about how to care for my feet. Pat Odoms

    Reply
    • Jedha

      09/15/2017 at 4:48 pm

      You’re welcome. Good to hear!

      Reply
  8. Romy

    07/05/2017 at 3:12 pm

    My feet burn, they feel like they want to blister but have not. I have found a couple of small air pockets. Some days they feel better than others .

    Reply
    • Jedha

      07/07/2017 at 10:53 pm

      Keep up with those regular checks Romy! Best way to avoid more severe complications.

      Reply
  9. Jacqui Jackson

    11/13/2015 at 8:28 pm

    Thank you for this I found it very helpful. I went for my first diabetic foot check today and a few minor issues were found. This guide will certainly help me keep a check on my feet. I was diagnosed with type 2 about 6 months ago.

    Reply
    • Jedha

      11/15/2015 at 2:33 am

      Glad you found it helpful Jacqui. Keeping on top of those things really does prevent anything bad from happening so it’s well worth the time and effort. Hope everything else is going well for you too. 🙂

      Reply
      • Linda

        04/13/2017 at 10:26 am

        Great tips and would like more. I’d like to suggest making articles about socks and shoe fitting for diabetics. Socks have been a particular problem. They need to fit very well, i.e., not shrink or put pressure on the toes or stretch well in the ankle area to adapt to swelling. I have not found the right ones yet.

        Reply
        • Jedha

          04/13/2017 at 4:44 pm

          Thanks for the suggestion Linda and Yes, it is on our topics list to cover.

          Reply
        • Linda

          05/24/2017 at 8:52 pm

          I agree. Socks have been a particular problem for fitting. Either too long or
          too short or don’t stretch enough at the ankle or a little too tight around the
          calf muscle leaving imprints. Some have the toe area too tight and they
          put pressure on the toes and toenails.

          Thank you so much for your work.

          Reply
          • Jeannette Jeannette

            03/19/2023 at 12:44 pm

            The best socks I have found so far are Dr Sholls, they come in white and black. They are a little fluffier than others and the ankle potion expands as the ankle swells. I have been able to find them at Walmart, but you have to look as they are hung a little away from the regular socks, which are usually hung by sex and length, these I believe are uni-sex.

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