Hygiene is another crucial aspect of the diabetic foot care spectrum. We’ve already discussed what you should look for during your daily foot exams, but in this section we’re going to provide some tips for washing and cleansing your feet.
Why Cleaning Your Diabetic Feet Is Important
Before we talk about some of the techniques for keeping your diabetic feet clean, let’s explain why the process is important. For starters, regardless of whether or not you’re a diabetic, keeping your feet clean is helpful for your health. Your feet come in contact with a lot of bacteria inside shoes and when you’re walking around barefoot. If you’re not actively cleaning your feet, you’re making it easier for this bacteria to linger and enter through an open wound on your body.
Also, our feet can easily get overlooked when we’re in the shower. You probably shampoo your hair and scrub your chest and arms with soap, but can you say that you bend over and scrub your feet with soap every time you’re in the shower? If you do, keep it up, and if you don’t, know that you’re not alone. But agian, this can leave a person susceptible to bacteria-related foot problems.
Keeping your feet clean is especially important for diabetics because they are more likely to have circulation issues in their extremities. Because blood flow to their feet may be impaired, wounds are going to take longer to heal, meaning bacteria will have more time to make its way into the bloodstream via the open wound. While a cut may heal in 2-3 days for a non-diabetic, the same cut may take 7-10 days to heal for a diabetic. This extended healing time means that diabetics are at a heightened risk for infections.
Not only that, but in the event an infection develops, it’s much harder for a diabetic to successfully fight off. Again, this is driven by the fact that blood flow is often inhibited or not as optimal in a diabetic individual. If healthy blood can’t easily get to the infection site, it’s harder for the body to successfully neutralize the issue. So in order to prevent problems from developing while wounds area healing, it’s imperative that you work to keep your feet clean.
Cleaning your Diabetic Feet
Cleaning your feet daily is extremely important if you have diabetes, regardless of whether you have a cut or a sore on your feet. Here are some tips for cleaning your feet.
- Begin by performing the checks on this page.
- After examining your feet, soak them in water for a minute. Do not over-soak, as overdoing it can breakdown skin particles.
- Using a wash rag, gently scrub the top, sides and bottom of both feet.
- Scrub your toes, including between each toe.
- Dry your feet, again inspecting for any cuts or sores.
- Consider applying moisturizer afterwards or throughout the day to avoid dry skin, which can make your feet susceptible to cracking.
Regular cleanings can also serve as a time when you can perform foot checks. While you’re cleaning your feet, look for wounds, sores, rashes, infections or signs of an ingrown toenail. The sooner a problem is identified, the sooner treatment can begin, and treatment is almost always more effective when it begins while the condition is in an earlier stage. Like we always say, stop small problems before they become a major issue.
Now that you know how to keep your feet clean, you’ll want to ensure you keep your feet protected throughout the day. You can learn more about some of the best ways to protect your diabetic feet by making smart footwear choices on this page. And if you have questions or concerns about your diabetic feet, reach out to Dr. Silverman today.