The daily foot care routine I recommend to every patient with diabetes, and particularly to those with any degree of neuropathy, is built around a single principle: never let a foot problem go unnoticed. Inspect both feet every day, including the soles and between the toes, using a mirror if needed, or asking a family member to check areas you cannot easily see. Look for any redness, swelling, blisters, cuts, cracks, or changes in skin colour. Never walk barefoot, including inside the house: the most common cause of the foot injuries that lead to diabetic ulcers is a minor wound sustained while barefoot that goes unfelt because of neuropathy. Wash feet daily in warm, not hot, water, testing the temperature with your elbow rather than your feet if sensation is reduced, and dry thoroughly between the toes. Apply a moisturising cream to the soles and heels to prevent dryness and cracking, but not between the toes where moisture encourages fungal infection. For footwear, choose shoes that are wide enough to avoid pressure on the toes, with a cushioned sole, no internal seams that create pressure points, and a closed toe. Break in new shoes gradually. Avoid tight socks and open-toed sandals. Any wound, blister, or area of unusual colour or warmth should be assessed at Chirayu Multispeciality Clinic, Kasturi Nagar, on the same day it is noticed, not monitored at home for several days, because in a diabetic foot, hours matter.
Written by Dr. Santosh Kumar PK, Master's in Diabetes Management (Middlesex University), PGD Clinical Cardiology and PGD Endocrinology (Royal College of Physicians, UK), Consultant Physician and Cardio-Diabetologist, Chirayu Multispeciality Clinic, Kasturi Nagar, Bengaluru. Phone: +91 9164442266.
