The most important part of taking care of your feet is to keep your eyes on them! Occasionally checking between your toes and looking under your feet for any abnormalities is very important. You never know when a new freckle, wound, or bruise might pop up that needs close attention to make sure it doesn’t turn into anything more serious. Many patients with diabetes have neuropathy and might wound their foot without knowing. It’s even more important for diabetic patients to check their feet daily!
What else can you do to properly care for your feet? Daily stretching! The key is stretching far but not to the point of discomfort. You can also use simple household objects to stretch your feet. First, grab a water bottle, can, or other cylindrical object. Simply place it under your foot and roll it back and forth, from the front of your foot to the back of the heel. You can roll your foot for about a minute and repeat a few times a day or whenever necessary. Daily stretching is the best way to keep your feet flexible and strong. Another simple foot stretch is to place a ball, like a lacrosse ball, under your foot and roll it while applying gentle pressure.
Another way to properly care for your feet is to trim your toenails and wash your feet regularly. Cut your toenails straight across to prevent ingrown toenails. If you have poor circulation, use sterile instruments to avoid an infection. Wash your feet in warm water but don’t soak them to avoid drying them out. After they are clean, apply a moisturizer such as coconut oil, petroleum jelly, or other lotion. Make sure you put on a pair of socks afterwards so you avoid slipping.
If needed, daily icing and elevating may be necessary for some. Always wear good, breathable socks and proper fitting shoes. Visit our friends at Feet First Sports to make sure you are wearing the best shoes for your unique feet.
At Howard County Foot and Ankle, we treat everything from warts and ingrown toenails to flatfeet and heel pain. Many people come to us for diabetic foot care or simply because they have foot pain or ankle pain and don’t know the cause of it. We handle emergencies such as fractures and infections as well. Dr. Bui performs a wide variety of surgeries and specializes in reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. You won’t find a better foot doctor than our highly skilled and highly qualified, Dr. Christina Bui! Call or email us to ask any questions you might have. We would love to be your go-to Podiatrist!
