Foot Care for Diabetics

Diabetic patients are often accompanied by neuropathy and blood circulation disorders, resulting in dull foot sensation and reduced repair ability. Even minor injuries may lead to severe complications such as infection, ulceration and even amputation. Therefore, daily scientific care is the key to protecting health.

Cleaning and care need to be extra careful: soak your feet in warm water at 37–39℃. You can first test the water temperature with the inside of your wrist to avoid scalding; the foot-soaking time should be controlled at 10–15 minutes, not too long. After washing your feet, gently press and dry them with a soft absorbent towel, paying special attention to the toe gaps to keep the feet dry and reduce bacterial growth.

Daily foot inspection is indispensable: carefully observe the soles, toes, around the toenails and the skin folds of the feet to check for abnormalities such as redness, swelling, blisters, cracks, abrasions, corns or calluses. Patients with poor eyesight can use a mirror or ask family members to assist in the inspection to achieve early detection and early treatment.

The choice of shoes and socks is important: prioritize cotton, breathable socks and change them daily; shoes should be loose, well-fitting, with soft and elastic soles. Avoid wearing tight, hard or pointed shoes to prevent squeezing the feet. Never walk barefoot, whether indoors or outdoors, to avoid scratches from sharp objects.

Toenail trimming needs to be gentle and standardized: soften the toenails before trimming, use special nail clippers to cut them into a straight shape, avoid cutting them too short, too sharp or trimming the nail grooves to prevent damage to the nail bed and subsequent infection. If toenails become thickened, deformed or ingrown, do not handle them by yourself and seek help from a professional doctor in a timely manner.

In addition, blood glucose control is the basis of foot care. Follow the doctor's advice to take medicine regularly, maintain a reasonable diet, do moderate exercise and monitor blood glucose regularly. Once you find that foot wounds do not heal for a long time, or experience abnormalities such as pain, numbness and coldness in the feet, you must seek medical attention in a timely manner, and never delay or handle them by yourself.

The diabetic pathological medical models produced and sold by SCMEHE can help patients vividly understand the daily physical changes caused by systemic diseases and safeguard their health.