Other Columns on Health-Related Topics
Preventive Care Tips for Your Feet
The Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine Center now provides nail and callus care to people with certain health problems. If you are a diabetic you may be able to receive this care. If you have peripheral neuropathies (cannot feel or have abnormal feeling) involving the feet you may also be able to receive the care. Your primary physician must refer you to the clinic and provide the supporting medical diagnosis for the care. We will assist you and your physician by faxing the Supporting Diagnosis and Order Form to your physician.
The care provided to you for your feet consists of assessment and testing for problems with your feet, as well as trimming your toenails and calluses. Examples of assessment and testing may include: assessment for calluses, assessment of thickened toenails, testing for pressure points that can increase the chance of you getting a sore on your foot. We also test to see how much feeling or abnormal feeling you have in your feet. With the loss of feeling/sensation you will be unable to protect yourself from injury by feeling pain. In addition, we do a basic foot assessment to identify abnormal structure of your feet and take pictures to document findings. We also check your footwear to make sure that you are wearing the correct footwear to protect your feet. Medicare assists with the cost of appropriate footwear for persons with diabetes. If your footwear is not appropriate, we refer you to a person who specializes in assessing and providing you with the correct footwear.
Education is a big part of the care we provide. The information you receive will help you take care of your feet correctly preventing problems. Regular checking and preventive care of the feet are the patient’s best protection against developing diabetes related foot problems.
Here are some preventive care information tips that will help you care for your feet correctly. Preventive care includes keeping the feet clean, using mild soap and warm water and gently patting your feet dry especially between the toes. Put a moisturizing lotion on your feet daily except between the toes because persons with diabetes tend to have very dry skin. Check your feet daily including in between your toes for cuts, blisters, sores, swelling, cracks in your skin or dry skin. If you notice a problem, call your physician and let him/her know.
Avoid trauma to your feet by wearing shoes and clean socks at all times when out of bed. Also, make sure your shoes fit correctly and protect your feet. Do not wear flip flops, pointed shoes, or shoes made from plastic. It is important to check the inside of your shoes for foreign objects and/or spiders, ants, etc. Check the temperature of your bath water before getting into the water because diabetes may keep your feet from being able to feel hot or cold. Do not use a heating pad, or hot water bottle on your feet for the same reason. You should not soak your feet for longer than you would be in the bathtub because your skin can be damaged.
It is very important for you to remember not to attempt to care for your calluses with razor blades, scissors, knifes, etc. Toenails should be cut straight across and the edges of the nail smoothed with an emery board. However, persons with diabetes are encouraged to have their toenails and calluses cared for by a healthcare professional to decrease the chance of infection and/or sores on your feet.
I hope this information is helpful to you. If, you have any questions, please call us at 501-332-7000.
Talk with your physician about a referral to the Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine Center for assistance in caring for your toenails and calluses.
Virginia Wood, RN, is the Wound Care Manager for the Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine Center at HSCMC.
