It is important to me to make sure my Diabetic patients are aware of problems that can occur with their feet. We have in-depth discussions about the risks of neuropathy, or loosing feeling in their feet. We also discuss the decreased ability to heal wounds and the increased risk of infections with Diabetes. There are still a couple facts that patients with Diabetes may not realize.
Be careful your shower is not too hot…
As Diabetic patients begin to loose feeling in their feet, they are not always able to determine what is too hot for their feet. For this reason it is important to make sure your showers and baths are lukewarm. If you are unsure of how hot the temperature is, have someone else check for you. You can also test the temperature of the water on your wrist or another part of your body. If the water is too hot, you can actually burn yourself and not even realize it.
Beware of heaters and electric blankets…
Similar to the hot showers, if you cannot differentiate what is too hot, you can easily burn yourself with heaters and electric blankets. I have seen patients get second degree burns from being too close to a heater and not feeling it. With second degree burns, fluid filled blisters will develop. Over time, these blisters will become dry, dead skin that will either fall off or will have to be removed. At this point you will then have open wounds on your feet which are already more difficult to heal. Anytime there is an open wound, you are at an increased risk of infection because Diabetes causes patients to be immunocompromised. These wounds must be followed carefully and treated with antimicrobial prescriptions such as Silvadene cream.
Pedicures can be dangerous to Diabetic patients…
If you are going to get a pedicure, be sure to go to a highly trained and qualified advanced nail technician. Make sure the person doing the pedicure cuts your nails straight across and does not dig into the corners. Also, be sure they do not try to remove your cuticle. This is meant to act as a protective barrier to the nail. Lastly, make sure all instruments are properly sterilized and they do not use sharp tools or blades on your foot. These can cut you and lead to open wounds and infections. Leave your corns and calluses up to the doctor!
If you have any questions regarding your Diabetes, call Hollowbrook Foot Specialists today at (845) 298-9074 for an appointment. We are serving the Hudson Valley from Wappingers Falls.
