Importance Of Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes and daily routines go hand in hand; this should include examining your feet. If you have diabetes, you must take better care of your feet than the average person. Good foot care is essential to catch minor problems before they become severe. Dr. Robert J. Kaplan at Twin Rivers Podiatry in Easton, Pennsylvania, can teach you about the importance of diabetic foot care and offer preventative steps to take to avoid dangerous complications.

Reasons to Check Your Feet

A major consequence of diabetes is nerve damage in the extremities called peripheral neuropathy. This can cause tingling, burning, pain and numbness in your feet and lower legs. When you lose feeling in your feet, you’re at a higher risk of undetected foot injuries like small blisters, cuts or ulcers. When you overlook minor injuries, they may soon turn into a major infection. Nerve damage also can cause poor circulation, which means wounds may take longer to heal, making you even more prone to infection. In worst-ccase scenarios, neglecting your feet combined with improper wound care can lead to life-changing events like gangrene, amputation and premature death.

Check & Protect Your Feet

Check your feet every day, even if you don’t feel any pain. Examine your bare feet carefully for cuts, red spots, blisters and swelling. If you can’t see the bottoms of your feet, use a mirror. Protect your feet by:

• Never walking around barefoot.

• Wearing comfortable shoes and socks that fit well at all times.

• Washing your feet daily and drying them thoroughly, especially between the toes.

• Rubbing a thin layer of skin lotion over your feet (not between the toes) to keep skin soft and smooth.

• Keeping toenails trimmed straight across and filing edges with an emery board or nail file.

• Properly insulating feet from hot and cold temperatures to avoid burning or frostbiting your feet without realizing it.

• Ensuring healthy blood flow to your feet by putting them up when sitting and not crossing your legs for extended periods of time.

Personalized Diabetic Foot Care

Receive personalized attention for your feet at Twin Rivers Podiatry. With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Kaplan is dedicated to serving all your podiatry needs. Contact us at 610-253-2251 to schedule an appointment or discuss any foot-related questions or complaints. We accept most health care insurance plans, as well as financing through Care Credit.