Diabetic Foot Care in Summer
What are the risks regarding foot health in patients with diabetes in summer?
People experiencing sensory deficits due to diabetic polyneuropathy (nerve end damage) may feel a decrease or loss in the sense of pressure, pain or temperature.
Patients with diabetes can step on an object, wear shoes hurting their feet and causing wounds to occur or cannot feel heat on their soles on the hot ground without realizing those. As a result, they involuntarily cause serious damage on their feet.
In patients with diabetes, especially if blood glucose management is poor, delay in the healing period of the wound is more prominent.
On the other hand, stenosis and occlusions are observed more frequently in the leg-foot veins of patients with diabetes.
Sometimes, blood flow may deteriorate at the capillary level although major arteries are patent, which makes wound healing process more difficult.
So, the best thing to do is to ensure that no wounds occur.
Patients with diabetes should not step barefoot on the warm floors of beaches or pool sides and should wear slippers on beach and pool sides.
If the seabed is rocky rather than sandy or there are shellfishes in the sea, they are advised to wear sea shoes.
Ways to Care and Protect Your Feet:
- The feet should be washed with water less than 37 ℃ every day and dried with a soft towel. Interdigital areas should be dried well.
- Other parts of the foot should be put on moisturizing lotion or cream, except interdigital areas. It is especially required to prevent from cracked heels with a good care.
- The feet should be checked every day for cut, scratch, fungus and possible swellings. If needed, a mirror can be used to see the sole.
- The nails should be flatly trimmed. Edges of the nails should be filed to prevent sharp points. Foot and nail care should be regularly applied, and patients should get help from relatives if they are unable to examine their foot thoroughly.
- Callus and dead tissues should not be removed. Callus remover, warm transdermal patch or acid should not be used for the calluses. Consulting with a dermatologist or podiatrist is recommended.
- Internal area of shoes should be checked each time before wearing for foreign bodies, stinging object, roughened surface and tears.
- The shoes should be comfortable and compatible with the feet. The shoes should be made of soft leather with no hard footbeds. Women are advised not to prefer peep-toe shoes in summer. Rather, lace up shoes should be preferred in order for shoes to be stretched.
- Feet tend to swell throughout the day, so you should buy your shoes in late afternoon or early evening and, if possible, buy one size larger. Keep your old shoes until your new ones are ready to be worn full time.
- Sandals and flip-flops should not be worn. More comfortable and airy shoes should be preferred on trips. If possible, the feet should be aired out at resting places and socks should be changed if your feet excessively sweat.