Diabetic foot care and screening

A diabetic foot is a foot that exhibits any pathology that results directly from diabetes mellitus or any long-term (or "chronic") complication of diabetes mellitus. Presence of several characteristic diabetic foot pathologies such as infection, diabetic foot ulcer and neuropathic osteoarthropathy is called diabetic foot syndrome.

Daily foot care - Here are a few foot care habits you can adopt and try to do every day:

Inspect your feet

    Check your feet and toes, inspecting the tops, sides, soles, heels, and the area in between the toes.

Wash your feet

    Wash your feet every day in warm water with mild soap. Hot water and harsh soaps can damage your skin. Check the water temperature with your fingers or elbow before putting your feet in.

Dry your feet

    Pat your feet to dry them and make sure to dry well. Infections tend to develop in moist areas, so make sure you dry the area between your toes well.

Moisturize dry skin

    If the skin on your feet feels rough or dry, use lotion or oil. Do not use lotion between your toes.