1. Don't deny you are a diabetic

Anyone who has ever had an elevated blood sugar level is at risk for foot complications. It may be as simple as knowing that once in your life (even during pregnancy) you have had an elevated blood sugar level. If so, you are at risk and must begin to monitor your feet.

Diet-controlled diabetics, whether diagnosed as an adult or as a child, have feet at risk of diabetic complications. The simple rule: If you have ever been told that you are at risk of developing diabetes, you need to consider your feet and work to prevent injury.
 

 

2. Don't accept that all diabetics lose their legs

It starts with daily foot checks -- inspecting all sides, including the bottoms, which can be done best with someone's help or with a mirror. During a foot check, any changes in the foot's shape or color, sense of feeling/sensation, painful areas or skin integrity need to be evaluated. With shape, any new bunions, calluses or corns need to be identified and if known, shown to a physician. The overall shape could change due to a bone fracture that would also need the attention of a physician. Stress fractures are very small breaks in the bone that will not usually change the shape of the foot, but may cause pain or bruising. The color of the foot is important as it helps show any changes in blood flow to the foot. Darkening or loss of hair may indicate that the blood supply has decreased. Less blood to the foot can mean slower healing of cuts and scrapes. Bruises indicate injuries. Especially important are the bruises or cuts found during a foot check that the person was not aware of at the time of injury. Any bruises within calluses are particularly important to show to a physician.

To monitor sensation, a feather or facial tissue can be used to brush the foot and test its ability to feel light touch. It is important to be sure the foot can sense the differences between hot/warm and cold water also. Shower water can be first tested with the hand and then with the feet to identify any loss of temperature sensation. Testing for any change in ability to "feel" with the feet is important because diabetics can hurt themselves and not be aware of the injury or its severity. By checking their feet daily, they can see any new wounds and monitor healing areas. Diabetics can also wear more protective shoes, not sandals, to prevent any injuries to the feet and toes. The top of the foot will be the first area to lose some of its ability to "feel," then the bottom of the foot. The area may not feel "numb," but a progressive decrease in ability to feel light touch, temperature or the presence of shoes indicates a foot at risk.

3. Beware of Common Pitfalls

Any areas that are painful need to be examined very closely for any of the above-mentioned changes. Foot injuries that occur without the person's knowledge can be the first sign of diabetes, especially when accompanied with decreased sensation.

Wounds need to be monitored. When wounds take a long time to heal, the foot becomes at risk of infection, ulcers and further damage to local tissue and bone. There are special bandaging techniques and ointments that can be used to help diabetic wounds heal and concurrently prevent permanent damage.

As with any chronic disease, history is important -- both the patient's and his or her family's. Diabetics who have had problems with any of the following (in the past or currently) need to consider themselves at risk: foot ulcers, toenail infections such as fungus, stress fractures or other single fractures of the foot, slow-healing wounds, bunions, corns and thick calluses. In the family history, any amputations of toes, feet or legs (part or whole) need to be shared with a physician. Other family members with known diabetes, suspected diabetes or problems with the feet such as mentioned above should be shared with a physician.

The bottom line is take care of your feet, look at them daily and see a physician if anything is suspicious.

Last updated: November 25, 2003