If You Have Diabetes, Do This Every Day
One of the things we believe here at Clifton Foot & Ankle Center is that a well-informed patient is in the best position to make decisions about their own health care. When you have the facts, it’s easier to know what to do.
If you’re diabetic, there’s a lot of information that you need to digest. You need to know how the disease affects your blood sugar, your diet, your mental health, your eyes, kidneys, circulation, heart, and – the part we’re naturally most concerned with – your feet.
Your daily diabetes ritual
First and foremost, board-certified podiatrist Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm wants you to be fully informed about the threat diabetes poses to your feet. It’s no joke. It’s nothing to put off for another day. In fact, we think that there’s one particular action you need to be taking every day in order to protect your feet from the effects of diabetes: perform a daily foot inspection.
Second, we want to make it easy for you to perform a daily inspection that’s meaningful, comprehensive, and effective. So, here’s a checklist for daily diabetic foot care. It’ll help you know exactly what you’re looking for. You might want to print it out and post it in your bathroom or bedroom.
- cuts or scrapes
- red patches
- dry patches (treat them with moisturizer)
- cracks in the skin
- blisters, corns, or calluses (never treat these at home)
- areas of numbness
- change in color
- change in shape, including swollen areas
- ingrown toenails
- brittle or cracked toenails
Finally, we want you to know that you’re not alone. Dr. Wilhelm is your partner when it comes to health decisions about your feet. We recommend that diabetics visit our office in Centreville, VA at least once a year. But be informed and vigilant on your own and don’t hesitate to make an appointment any time you detect changes in your feet. Call us at (703) 996-3000 or contact us online for an appointment.
