A combination of poor blood flow and nerve damage from chronic high blood sugar puts diabetics at greater risk of developing foot problems. Simple scratches and pressure spots that would rarely cause problems in others will have trouble healing and even grow larger over time. Ultimately, these wounds develop infections and require the intervention of a doctor to help patients recover.
No fear. Here are 3 ways you can protect your feet.
What Can You Do?
Daily care and attention can help you prevent and catch minor wounds. The Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends checking your feet every day, tops and bottoms, and drying them thoroughly after bathing. There are a few additional things you can do to help keep your feet healthy too.
#1. Stay Active
Since part of the problem is poor blood circulation, you can help combat this with regular exercise to get the heart pumping. Taking a daily walk or run is the most straightforward option, but there are many kinds of exercise that work the legs, such as using a recumbent bike.
#2. Trim Nails After Showering
Keeping your nails neat and trim can reduce the risk of hangnails or cutting your legs or feet with your own toenails. Since these nails tend to be thicker and more difficult to trim, take a shower first. The warm water helps to soak the toenails and soften them. After your mini pedicure, apply moisturizer to your feet to keep the skin from getting chapped.
#3. Wear Comfortable Shoes
Everyone should wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes and socks, even at home. If shoes aren’t cozy enough to relax in, pull on a pair of slippers. It pays to take your time trying on different sizes and styles at the shoe store. You want a pair that doesn’t pinch or rub against your foot, yet provides protection from bumps and scrapes. Thick diabetic socks can also help support proper blood flow and prevent swelling.
[expand title=”References“]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. URL Link. Accessed March 22, 2017.
Diabetes Forecast. URL Link. Accessed March 22, 2017.
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