How to Properly Care for Your Feet When You Have Diabetes

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes you might have a ton of questions about how to take care of yourself. When you aren’t in your doctor’s office, you can often feel overwhelmed by your own personal at-home care. You might second guess yourself or have a billion questions. That’s why our Silver Spring podiatrists, Dr. Marc Goldberg, Dr. Christopher Farnworth and Dr. Michael Frank, are here! If you’re a Silver Spring patient, let us give you five diabetic foot care tips to help soothe your concerns and making your regimen easier.

 

 

It might seem ridiculous, but if there are even the slightest changes in your foot it’s best to come in for a visit. Even a small blister can wreck havoc on your health. We always tell our Silver Spring patients they can’t be too cautious. If you notice any changes to the skin or any pain or discomfort, give us a call.

 

 

Sure it might seem lovely to soak in the tub after a long day of work, but think again. If the skin begins to break down you could risk an infection. Plus, if you’re dealing with nerve damage, you risk burning yourself if the water is too hot.

 

 

You should be giving your feet a thorough examination every day so that you can quickly spot changes or problems. We recommend even using a mirror to see the bottoms of your feet. Look for cuts, ulcers, dryness, blisters, itching or cracks. While you’ll also get your feet examined in our Silver Spring office, it’s imperative that you do the same and keep up with it when you are in the comfort of your own home.

 

 

It’s important to keep your toenails trimmed. With a nail clipper, go straight across the toenail, avoiding rounding the corners so you don’t develop ingrown toenails.

 

 

One of the most important foot care tips we can offer our Silver Spring patients is to wash and dry your feet each day. With our hectic lives we use our feet for everything. They need some TLC, too! Wash with mild soap and warm water and make sure you dry your feet immediately to prevent fungus. You can also apply lotion to prevent cracking, just make sure to avoid putting lotion between your toes.

 

 

These handy tips should get you well on your way to proper diabetic foot treatment in Silver Spring. Of course, if you have any questions or concerns Dr. Marc Goldberg, Dr. Christopher Farnworth and Dr. Michael Frank, our Silver Spring podiatrists, are always here to answer any of your questions. Call us at (301) 439-0300 for more information.