Happy Humpday! Last week I did a post, and maybe you read it, I said that it was Earth Day. I was wrong. Earth Day is not until April.
Today, I want to discuss diabetic foot care. First, I think everyone should take care of their feet. But, for diabetics it is especially important to take care of your feet. Due to decreased sensation in the feet, due to Neuropathy, diabetics may not feel pain as well, or itching, and other sensations. So, they may not realize they have a problem on their foot without daily inspections. An infection for a diabetic can be disastrous. My husband was recently told the he has pre-diabetes. We are working on getting that back to normal with diet and exercise. But, he still has to be aware of his feet. I generally do his foot care for him, except for cutting his toenails. He does that himself. I have instructed him to cut his toenails straight across and then file any sharp edges. This is extremely important as any small cut in the skin, even from a tiny toenail edge, can cause an infection for a diabetic. Even though he does not have full blown Diabetes yet, learning to properly for his feet now can curb complications in the future should he get Diabetes. People who are certified to do manicure and pedicures can trim toenails of a diabetic. I would recommend you ask to be sure they are certified to do so. A Podiatrist is a great choice if you are uncertain about someone else doing it. Or, you could learn to do it at home yourself. I would recommend you schedule on your calendar as a reminder to have your toenails trimmed and a deep foot care session. That way you won’t forget. Most people find having their feet pampered relaxing and comforting. I am not one of those people, lol. When I do my own foot soaks, I soak my feet in warm water with peppermint essential oils. It is so lovely. Remember to check your feet first, for any open areas. Adding anything to soaking water may cause more damage to open areas on the foot. Don’t forget good shoes! Everyone has their own opinion of what shoes are comfortable to them. Just be sure and invest in a good pair of walking shoes. It is worth it in the end. I like Crocs, New Balance, and Sketchers on the Go. They are my favorites right now.
There are 2 good videos below that I found on diabetic foot care. The first one is short and shows what daily foot care should look like for Diabetes. The second video I like, but I don’t like that she is not wearing gloves and she didn’t really show that she soaked the feet prior to beginning the process. It also might be nice if she stressed that her equipment was clean and sanitized. She uses some very cool equipment, which I think I will purchase to have available should we need it.
If you would like to get exclusive Health Buddy Melissa content, not shared on this blog, sign up for my Mailchimp mailing list below. Each Wednesday my newsletter goes out through Mailchimp.
Get a free coaching session related to Kidney Health in the month of March 2021. Click to read how. I still have open spots! You can watch my video below about how a Health Coach can help you with Kidney Disease.
Use the contact form at the end of each post to message me with questions, or to ask about my coaching service.
Living Life With CKD 