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Take
care of your diabetes. ^ top
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Make healthy lifestyle choices to help keep your blood glucose (sugar),
blood pressure, and cholesterol close to normal. Doing so may help
prevent or delay diabetes-related foot problems as well as eye and
kidney disease.
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Work with your health care team to make a diabetes plan that
fits your lifestyle. The team may include your doctor, a diabetes
educator, a nurse, a dietitian, a foot care doctor called a podiatrist
(pah-DI-ah-trist), and other specialists. This team will help you
to:
> Know when to get checks of your A1C,* blood pressure, and
cholesterol.
> Know how and when to test your blood glucose.
> Take your medicines as prescribed.
> Eat regular meals that contain a variety of healthy, low-fat,
high-fiber foods including fruits and vegetables each day.
> Get physical activity each day.
> Stop smoking.
> Follow your foot care plan.
> Keep your doctor's visits and have your feet, eyes, and
kidneys checked at least once a year.
> Visit your dentist twice a year.
*A1C is a measure of your blood glucose over a 3-month period.
Check
your feet every day. ^ top
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You may have serious foot problems, but feel no pain. Check your feet
for cuts, sores, red spots, swelling, and infected toenails. Find
a time (evening is best) to check your feet each day. Make checking
your feet part of your every day routine.
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If you have trouble bending over to see your feet, use a plastic
mirror to help. You also can ask a family member or caregiver to help
you.
Check your feet every
day.
Make
sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, sore, blister, or bruise
on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.
Wash your feet every day. ^
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Wash your feet in warm, not hot, water. Do not soak your feet,
because your skin will get dry.
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Before bathing or showering, test the water to make sure it
is not too hot. You can use a thermometer (90° to 95° F is
safe) or your elbow.
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Dry your feet well. Be sure to dry between your toes. Use
talcum powder or cornstarch to keep the skin between your toes dry.
Keep
the skin soft and smooth. ^
top
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Rub a thin coat of skin lotion, cream, or petroleum jelly
on the tops and bottoms of your feet.
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Do not put lotion or cream between your toes, because this
might cause an infection.
Put lotion on the tops
and bottoms of your feet.
Smooth corns and calluses gently. ^
top
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If you have corns and calluses, check with your doctor or
foot care specialist about the best way to care for them.
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If your doctor tells you to, use a pumice stone to smooth
corns and calluses after bathing or showering. A pumice stone is a
type of rock used to smooth the skin. Rub gently, only in one direction,
to avoid tearing the skin.
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Do not cut corns and calluses. Don't use razor blades,
corn plasters, or liquid corn and callus removers - they can damage
your skin.
Gently rub calluses
with a pumice stone.
Make sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, sore, blister, or bruise on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.
Trim your toenails each week or when needed. ^ top
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Trim your toenails with clippers after you wash and dry your feet.
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Trim toenails straight across and smooth them with an emery board or nail file.
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Don't cut into the corners of the toenail.
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If you can't see well, if your toenails are thick or yellowed, or if your nails curve and grow into the skin, have a foot care doctor trim them.
Trim your toenails straight across and smooth them with a nail file.
Wear
shoes and socks at all times. ^
top
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Wear shoes and socks at all times. Do not walk barefoot - not
even indoors - because it is easy to step on something and hurt
your feet.
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Always wear socks, stockings, or nylons with your shoes to
help avoid blisters and sores.
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Choose clean, lightly padded socks that fit well. Socks that
have no seams are best.
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Check the insides of your shoes before you put them on to
be sure the lining is smooth and that there are no objects in them.
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Wear shoes that fit well and protect your feet.
Check the inside of
your shoes before you put them on.
Protect
your feet from hot and cold. ^
top
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Wear shoes at the beach or on hot pavement.
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Put sunscreen on the top of your feet to prevent sunburn.
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Keep your feet away from radiators and open fires.
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Do not put hot water bottles or heating pads on your feet.
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Wear socks at night if your feet get cold. Lined boots are
good in winter to keep your feet warm.
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Check your feet often in cold weather to avoid frostbite.
Protect your feet when
walking on hot surfaces.
Make sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, sore, blister, or bruise on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.
Keep
the blood flowing to your feet. ^
top
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Put your feet up when you are sitting.
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Wiggle your toes for 5 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day. Move your
ankles up and down and in and out to improve blood flow in your feet
and legs.
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Don't cross your legs for long periods of time.
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Don't wear tight socks, elastic or rubber bands, or
garters around your legs.
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Don't smoke. Smoking reduces blood flow to your feet.
Ask for help to stop smoking.
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Work with your health care team to control your A1C (blood
glucose), blood pressure and cholesterol.
Put your feet up when you are sitting.
Be
more active. ^ top
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Ask your doctor to help you plan a daily activity program
that is right for you.
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Walking, dancing, swimming, and bicycling are good forms of
exercise that are easy on the feet.
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Avoid activities that are hard on the feet, such as running
and jumping.
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Always include a short warm-up and cool-down period.
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Wear athletic shoes that fit well and that provide good support.
Walking briskly is a
good exercise.
Make sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, sore, blister, or bruise on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.
Be
sure to ask your doctor to ^
top
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Check the sense of feeling and pulses in your feet at least
once a year.
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Tell you if you are likely to have serious foot problems.
If you have serious foot problems, your feet should be checked at
every visit to your doctor.
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Show you how to care for your feet.
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Refer you to a foot care doctor if needed.
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Decide if special shoes would help your feet stay healthy.
Ask your doctor to check the sense of feeling in your feet.
Get started now. ^
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Begin taking good care of your feet today.
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Set a time every day to check your feet.
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Note the date of your next visit to the doctor.
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Print out the foot care tip sheet and put it on your bathroom
or bedroom wall or nightstand as a reminder. Print
version (PDF* 32k)
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Print out and complete the "To Do" list. Get started
now. Print
version (PDF* 36k)
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Set a date for buying the things you need to take care of
your feet: nail clippers, pumice stone, emery board, skin lotion,
talcum powder, plastic mirror, socks, athletic shoes, and slippers.
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Most important, stick with your foot care program... and give
yourself a special treat such as a new pair of lightly padded socks
with no seams. You deserve it!
Make sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, sore, blister, or bruise on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.
Tips for Proper Footwear ^
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Proper footwear is very important for preventing serious foot
problems. Athletic or walking shoes are good for daily wear. They
support your feet and allow them to "breathe."
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Never wear vinyl or plastic shoes, because they don't
stretch or "breathe."
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When buying shoes, make sure they are comfortable from the
start and have enough room for your toes.
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Don't buy shoes with pointed toes or high heels. They
put too much pressure on your toes.
Ask your doctor about Medicare or other insurance coverage for special footwear. ^
top
You may need special shoes or shoe inserts to prevent serious foot
problems. If you have Medicare Part B insurance, you may be able to
get some of the cost of special shoes or inserts paid for. Ask your
doctor whether you qualify for
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1 pair of depth shoes* and 3 pairs of inserts, or
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1 pair of custom molded shoes (including inserts) and 2 additional
pairs of inserts.
If you qualify for Medicare or other insurance coverage, your doctor
or podiatrist will tell you how to get your special shoes.
* Depth shoes look like athletic or walking shoes, but have more
room in them. The extra room allows for different shaped feet and
toes, or for special inserts made to fit your feet.
For more information ^
top
American Association of Diabetes Educators
Web site: www.aadenet.org
1-800-TEAM-UP-4
American Diabetes Association
Web site: www.diabetes.org
1-800-DIABETES
American Podiatric Medical Association
Web site: www.apma.org
1-800-FOOTCARE
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of Diabetes Translation
Web site: www.cdc.gov/diabetes
1-877-232-3422
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
Web site: www.jdrf.org
1-800-533-CURE
National Diabetes Education Program
Web site: www.ndep.nih.gov
1-800-438-5383
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC)
Web site: diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
1-800-860-8747
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