Diabetes and Your Feet

Understanding the Risk

Why the Feet?

Your feet are the furthest point from your heart. To keep them healthy, your blood has to fight gravity to travel back up your legs.

Diabetes can complicate this process by:

• Restricting Circulation: High blood sugar can damage blood vessels, reducing the oxygen and nutrients that reach your feet.

• Slowing Wound Healing: When circulation is poor, a simple scratch can take weeks to heal, providing a window for infection.

• Neuropathy: Nerve damage can "silence" your feet, meaning you might not feel a cut, blister, or burn until it is too late.

The Reality of Neglect

An untreated foot injury for a diabetic individual isn't just uncomfortable—it’s dangerous. Small infections can lead to non-healing ulcers, which are the leading cause of amputations. In severe cases, systemic infections (sepsis) can be fatal. This is why specialized foot care is your first line of defense.

Your Daily Foot Health Checklist

Keep this guide handy to ensure you’re protected every single day.

• The Daily Inspection: Check your feet every night for redness, swelling, blisters, or cuts.

• The Mirror Trick: If you have trouble seeing the bottom of your feet, place a hand mirror on the floor and hold your foot over it.

• The Shoe Sweep: Before putting on shoes, sweep your hand inside to check for pebbles, torn linings, or foreign objects you might not feel while walking.

• Never Walk Barefoot: Even indoors, a small splinter or a stubbed toe can escalate quickly. Always wear supportive shoes or slippers.

• Support Matters: Avoid "flat" shoes or flip-flops. Wear shoes that provide structure to prevent friction and pressure points.

Skin Care & Hydration

The Diabetic Skin Barrier

Diabetes often causes the skin on the feet to become extremely dry, which leads to cracking (fissures). These cracks are "open doors" for bacteria.

• Daily Moisturizing: Use a diabetic-safe moisturizer every day to keep skin supple.

• The "No-Go" Zone: Never apply lotion between your toes, as trapped moisture can lead to fungal infections.

• Skin Changes: Be wary of skin that changes color (turning blue, purple, or dark red) or feels unusually cold or hot to the touch.

The Danger of "DIY" Foot Care

For many living with diabetes, limited mobility or changes in vision can make routine nail trimming a high-risk task. Attempting to cut your own nails when you cannot clearly see or reach your feet often leads to accidental nicks, cuts, or ingrown nails that can quickly spiral into serious infections.

The Hidden Dangers of Traditional Salons

It is a startling fact: Pedicures are the only salon service that results in deaths every year. Standard nail salons are often not equipped to handle the specific needs of a diabetic foot.

Things to Be Wary Of:

• Foot Soaks: Standing water in basins is a breeding ground for bacteria. Furthermore, oversoaking can cause diabetic skin to become over-hydrated and fragile, making it much more susceptible to tearing or being accidentally injured during the pedicure process.

• Chemical Callus Softeners: Many salons use "callus removers" that are actually caustic chemicals. These can cause severe chemical burns on diabetic skin that struggles to heal.

• Improper Sanitation: "Sanitized" is not the same as Sterile. If tools are not processed in a medical-grade autoclave, they can carry viruses and fungi from previous clients.