|
Report
the foot injuries and ulcers to your doctor promptly. Wash feet
daily with soap and warm (not hot) water. Dry thoroughly and gently,
especially between the toes. Powder the feet with talcum. When
the feet are thoroughly dry, rub lanolin gently into the skin
of the feet to keep the skin soft and free from scales and dryness.
Do
not cut corns or calluses or try to remove them with patent or
other medicines. If toenails are brittle and dry, apply lanolin
generously under and about the nails for a few nights after soaking.
Cut nails carefully straight across.
Do
not cut on the sides of the nail or the cuticle. If you go to
a podiatrist, foot specialist, or chiropodist, be sure to tell
this doctor that you have diabetes. If your toes overlap or are
pushed close together, separate them with lamb's wool.
Remove
shoes for short periods when you can. Wear thin socks of cotton
(not wool) to prevent moisture, which stimulates germs that cause
athlete's foot or other skin infections. Wear clean socks that
you change at least once a day. Do not wear loose socks with raised
seams.
Do
not wear bedroom slippers when you should wear shoes. Slippers
do not give proper support. Do not step on the floor or go outside
with bare feet. Wear shoes of soft leather, which fit but are
not tight. Break in new shoes gradually 1 hour a day.
Use
cotton bed socks if you need extra warmth for your feet when you
are in bed to sleep, but do not use hot-water bottles, or electric
heating pads. Don't burn the feet! Electric blankets are satisfactory.
Do
not wear garters or sit with legs crossed. Either will decrease
circulation to the feet, and the circulation may already be less
than normal because of the effects diabetes may have on your blood
vessels.
|