For patients living with diabetes, it’s crucial that they take special care of their feet. Since November is National Diabetes Month, today, Dr. Mucinskas at Feet First Foot Care Specialists shares some important tips for proper diabetic foot care.

When not treated, diabetes can be hazardous, especially for your feet. Even a tiny cut can result in severe consequences, like decreased blood flow or nerve damage. Many diabetics are so worried about monitoring their blood sugar, exercising, and eating healthy that they neglect their feet.  

Following are some things you should and shouldn’t do to keep your feet and your entire body safe.

3 Do’s for Taking Care of Diabetic Feet

1. Keep the blood flowing freely: Keep the blood flowing freely by massaging your feet daily. Be sure to move your ankles around and wriggle your toes for about five minutes, and repeat it two more times throughout the day.

2. Get regular foot exams from an experienced podiatrist: This is one of the most vital “do's” on the list. Regularly visiting an experienced podiatrist can decrease your risk of having a limb amputated by as much as 45% to 85%.

3. Closely examine your feet daily: Make foot examination part of your morning or evening routine. Look closely at all parts of your feet, including the sides and bottom, for blisters, cuts, cracks, redness, or swelling. Diabetes can diminish the feeling in your feet, so if you do get a cut and don’t realize or feel it, the consequences can become serious.

3 Don’ts for Taking Care of Diabetic Feet

1. Don’t try to remove corns on your own: It may be tempting to try to remove calluses or corns on your own. But you should always let an experienced podiatrist remove your corns or calluses because if you don’t have much feeling in your feet, you may hurt yourself.

2. Don’t let your feet wet in rain or snow: If you live in a cold area and your feet get wet, the risk of frostbite is elevated. Because the blood flow is already diminished, there is a higher risk of damage.

3. Don’t use heated items on your feet: Items such as heating pads, hot water bottles, electric blankets, or even extremely hot baths can all be soothing, but for diabetics, they can be dangerous. If you are experiencing nerve damage, you may not be able to feel how hot a heating pad is, which elevates the risk of burning your feet.

As stated above, the most important “do” is to see an experienced podiatrist for regular exams. If you want to learn more about diabetic foot care for yourself or a loved one or schedule an exam, contact Dr. Mucinskas at Feet First Foot Care Specialists to schedule an appointment. You can call our office at 860-632-5499 or click here to schedule your appointment online.