People with diabetes should protect their feet carefully to avoid injury.
Routine precautions
- Shoes should be worn at all times. If you are not comfortable wearing shoes indoors, choose slippers with good bottom support. Place shoes next to your bed for easy access when you get up. Develop good shoe wearing habits.
- If your feet get cold at night, put on socks before going to bed.
- Apply sunscreen to the backs of your feet when exposed to sunlight.
- Wear protective beach shoes or surf shoes when swimming. To prevent ringworm, plantar warts and other infectious diseases, you should also wear flip-flops when showering in public bathrooms and pools.
- Clean the aisles of your home. Remove items that could cause people to trip and fall. Arrange furniture wisely and make sure the floor leading to the bathroom at night is free of obstacles.
Check shoes
- Check your shoes carefully before wearing them, looking and making sure there are no loose objects, small stones or dirt, torn linings, roughness or other areas that could cause foot discomfort or injury.
- Check the soles of your shoes for nails or large-headed pins that could puncture the bottom of your feet before putting them on.
To avoid:
- Shoes that are too tight.
- Shoes worn barefoot.
- Walking barefoot indoors and outdoors.
- Put a hot water bottle or heating pad on your feet.
- Walk barefoot or in thin-soled shoes on overheated surfaces or on the beach.
- Wear garters and tight footwear.
- Sitting with legs or feet crossed.