Diabetes may cause severe consequences to the foot due to nerve damage and poor circulation.
If the person with diabetes does not pay attention and take good care of their feet,
there might be severe and irreversible damage Today; I’ll talk about how to care for your
foot if you have diabetes. I’ll give you eight tips
that you can follow at home. At the end, you can download
a handout with a summary of this video. So, let’s talk about DIABETIC FOOT today
Number 1 Inspect your feet every day. Look for changes in colour, redness, cuts, bruises, skin,
and nails, the top and the bottom of your feet. If you can’t see well or reach the bottom of your
foot, ask someone to help you or get a mirror. Check the heel and look for cracks in the skin.
Remove nail polishing and check if there are signs of fungus infection below the nails or
between the toes. Tell your doctor if you see any signs of swelling, redness, or infection.
Number 2 Wash your feet every day. Dry them very well, especially between the toes.
Number 3 Use a moisturizing lotion to keep your feet lubricated and
the skin intact and prevent dryness and cracking.
Do not apply lotion between the toes. Number 4 Trim your toenails regularly;
use a nail file to get rid of sharp edges that can hurt the other toe.
Number 5 Do not walk barefoot, especially outdoors. The diabetic foot has decreased
sensation and can be damaged and get infected. Number 6 Wear lose socks, do not use any rubber
band or sharp object inside your socks or shoes. Keep the feet warm in the winter.
Number 7 Reduce swelling by putting your legs and feet up. Wiggle your toes, and move your
ankles up and down when you are sitting to pump the blood out of your feet and into your heart.
Number 7 Buy a pair of high-quality shoes that are correctly measured on your feet.
If your feet get swollen at the end of the day, buy shoes in the evening, not in the morning.
Buy shoes made of leather. Avoid tight laces. Do not wear new shoes for more than 2 hours. Let your
feet accommodate the new shoes slowly. Do not wear the same pair of shoes every day. When walking
long distances, take breaks and inspect your feet for bruises or redness. Avoid pointed shoes.
Number 8 Do not remove calluses or corns yourself, and do not buy over-the-counter products to use
on your feet. They can burn and damage the skin. Always seek a professional foot doctor.
Before I continue, let me remind you that this video is intended for educational purposes only.
It is not medical advice. If you have diabetes and is concerned about your feet, please talk to
your doctor. If you have an emergency, go to the nearest emergency department or call an ambulance.
Use this link to download the handout with a summary of this video.
One of the complications of diabetic foot is the development of Charcot foot.
This is a deformity caused by a lack of sensation in the foot, microtrauma to the bones and joints,
and excess weight on foot. The foot starts getting swollen and deformed. The person
will notice it is hard to fit their shoes because the foot is swollen and deformed.
Unfortunately, some patients develop infections, like gangrene,
and require foot amputation. Another factor that contributes to foot complications is smoking. So,
if you smoke and have diabetes, your risk of amputation is much higher than a person that has
diabetes and does not smoke. The good news is that if you quit smoking, then your risks are reduced.
Don’t forget to keep your blood sugar under control. If your blood sugar is high,
you may not notice it as your body is adapted to the high blood sugars,
but high blood sugars for many years cause damage to the arteries and to
the nerves reducing the blood supply to the feet and altering sensations.
Share this video with any person who has diabetes; there is a share button below this video.
Thank you for watching. Goodbye