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 in their feet and might scratch or damage their feet 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 roll your foot on a lacrosse ball or something similar and apply light pressure.
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!
