Diabetic Foot Care FAQs

When you have a diagnosis of diabetes, your feet may not be the first thing that comes to mind as an integral part of caring for this disease. Diabetes often disrupts the communication of nerves to your feet, disallowing you to feel pain when an injury occurs. Also, diabetes can interrupt the normal blood flow to your feet, leaving them lacking in certain nutrients and other substances that travel through blood vessels that help heal your feet and keep them healthy. Dr. Jeff Harsch from The Foot & Ankle Clinic specializes in diabetic foot care in Lees Summit, MO. Read on to find answers to common questions regarding diabetic foot care.

What can I do to prevent small cuts and scrapes from turning into something serious?

A common issue that is seen in diabetic patients is that a small cut, burn, or bruise that may simply be a nagging annoyance to an otherwise healthy person can cause progression into a serious condition in the diabetic patient. Two reasons cause this. First, pain signals relayed by nerves may be disrupted. You may not initially feel the cut or burn to your foot when it happens.  Also, the blood supply to your foot may be impaired and healing will not take place as usual.

The best thing to do here is to inspect your feet every day for cuts, scrapes, bruises, and burns. If you see something new that wasn't there before, call your podiatrist immediately.

Do the shoes I wear matter?

Absolutely! Your shoes should fit well and even be a little roomy to decrease friction on your foot that you may not feel. Always wear clean socks with your shoes. Rotating your shoes every few days is wise to decrease the chance of consistent pressure on one area of your foot.

Should I avoid any activities?

Never walk barefoot, as you could step on something without feeling it. Avoidance of activities that may burn the foot is critical, such as using hot water bottles and stepping into bathwater without testing it first to ensure that the water is not too hot. Ask your podiatrist for other activity avoidance questions regarding diabetic foot care in Lees Summit, MO.

What are some tips for cleaning and grooming the feet?

Wash and dry your feet daily. Use moisturizing lotion on the top and bottom of your feet but not between the toes. Use extra care when trimming your toenails. Trim them straight across. If you can't reach them, have someone else do this for you.

Any other tips?

• Elevate the feet when relaxing and wiggle your toes throughout the day to keep the blood flowing.
• Wear socks to bed for warmth instead of using a heating pad.
• If corns or callouses develop, don't treat them yourself, call your podiatrist.

Contact us

Manage your diabetic foot care in Lees Summit, MO with  Dr. Harsch from The Foot & Ankle Clinic by calling (816) 525-2405.