Caring for your feet

Diabetes can damage small blood vessels in your body (in your eyes, kidneys and nerves) and large blood vessels in your body (in your heart, brain and legs). You must learn what steps you can take each day to keep problems from happening.

Foot care is very important. Warning signs; in your feet like tingling, burning or loss of feeling can mean you might have damage caused by diabetes.

Follow these steps:

1. Check your feet each day. Check the tops and bottoms of your feet.
2. Use a hand mirror if you can’t see the bottom of your foot. Look for dry, cracked skin, blisters, cuts, scratches or other sores.
3. If you get a blister on your foot, don’t pop it. Call your provider to have it checked.
4. Wash both feet each day with warm water. Never use hot water. Pat your skin dry. Don’t rub it.
5. Use lotion on your feet. Choose lanolin-based lotions or creams (check the label) that won’t dry skin out. Lanolin will keep moisture in your skin. Don’t put lotion between your toes. Don’t put lotion on your toenails.