Summer Foot Care For People With Diabetes

If you suffer from diabetes, you know that your feet can be severely affected by it. Taking special care of your feet under normal circumstances is challenging, but summer can make things harder. Make sure you use the best foot care this summer to stay healthy and safe. 

At Scheffel Foot Center, we’re diabetic foot care specialists. John A. Scheffel, DPM makes sure his diabetic patients understand and receive the special and unique treatment that their feet require. We take care of your needs in our Worcester and Clinton, Massachusetts, offices, and we make sure you also know what self-care methods to use at home. 

Diabetic foot issues

The two main foot issues for diabetics are neuropathy (damaged nerves) and peripheral vascular disease (poor blood flow). 

Specifically, “sensory diabetic neuropathy” is when the damaged nerves prevent your feet and legs from feeling temperature or pain. This means if you get a cut or sore you might not feel it. If your circulation is bad, that injury may not heal and, consequently, can get infected. 

What makes this even more troubling is that for diabetics, the most common and basic foot problems that easily heal for others can very easily get infection, gangrene, or worsen to the point of needing amputation. Some of these foot ailments include athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, blisters, bunions, ingrown toenails, and plantar warts. 

The most important thing you can do is stay healthy, eat right, exercise, and be vigilant about monitoring your diabetes and controlling your blood sugar levels. 

Tips for summer foot care 

While the tips for diabetic foot care are basically the same year-round, there are some pointers specific to summer because of your (likely) increased time spent outdoors. 

Unfortunately, the number one tip is to never go barefoot, indoors or outdoors. The reasoning behind this is that any injury, whether it’s a stubbed toe or a bad scrape, could have a serious impact on your feet as a diabetic. 

Here are some other important tips:

• Check your feet daily for any cuts, cracks, wounds or sores, as well as bruising or tenderness. 
• Take care of any injuries right away. 
• Keep your feet clean and dry. During the summer, they may sweat more. Moisture can cause foot fungus, which can be dangerous if you have diabetes. 
• Don’t put your feet first into a hot tub or bath. With neuropathy, you could easily burn or scald your feet.
• Don’t miss your regular appointments with your podiatrist.

If you’re diabetic, your feet need special care. We’re here to offer you the proper and regular care you need year-round, but especially if you need us this summer. Call us or request your appointment online today, so you can fully enjoy your summer with healthy feet.