Was one of your resolutions to perform daily foot checks? If you are a person living with diabetes, the answer to that question should be a resounding “YES!” Checking your feet daily is crucial to battling this disease, and even if you don’t have diabetes, you should still be practicing good foot care and checking your feet for signs of any problems or conditions.
Daily Foot Care Checklist
- Take notice of any changes that your feet may have undergone. If you notice a cut or scratch that wasn’t there before, be sure to disinfect and bandage it carefully. Keep an eye on any open wounds to make sure they are healing properly. If they don’t heal, get to a doctor immediately.
- If you have dry skin, use moisturizer to prevent cracking or peeling. Don’t put lotion in between your toes.
- Corns and calluses should be kept at bay by using an emery board or pumice stone to gently slough away dead skin. Never use a sharp tool at the risk of cutting or injuring yourself.
- Remember, to prevent ingrown toenails, you should always trim your toenails straight across instead of in a curved manner.
- Redness and warmth are a sign of infection. If you notice these symptoms, it’s important to get to a doctor right away.
- Wash your feet daily with a mild soap. Make sure to dry them thoroughly so that fungus does not develop.
- Wear protective foot coverings at all times when you aren’t checking your feet. Even if you’re just hanging out around your home, you could step on something sharp or stub your toes. Wearing slippers or shoes can help prevent a number of injuries.
If you take care of your feet and protect them by performing daily foot checks, you should be able to keep your diabetes from causing irreparable damage to your feet. If you have more questions, call Dr. Viedra Elison at (623) 584-5556 to make an appointment with us at Fixing Feet Institute in Surprise, AZ.
