Living with diabetes: Caring for your feet, skin and teeth

Good personal care can prevent problems caused by diabetes. Daily attention and regular exams are very important

Caring for your feet

Good personal care can prevent problems caused by diabetes. Daily attention and regular exams are very important.

You need to take extra care of your feet and legs. Diabetes can cause damage to the nerves and blood vessels in your feet and lower legs. When nerves are damaged, you don't feel problems like sores or cuts on your feet.

Amputations caused by diabetes could be reduced by as much as 75 percent with good self-care and regular foot exams by your health care provider.

Diabetes foot care guidelines

• Look at your feet every day to check for sores, cuts, cracks or blisters.
• Use a hand mirror, or ask a family member, to check the bottoms of your feet.
• Wash your feet with slightly warm water every day. Do not soak your feet because this will dry them out and might cause problems like cracking.
• Always check inside shoes for worn areas or objects that could cause a sore on your foot. New shoes should be broken in slowly. Ask your doctor if you need special shoes.
• Use lotion or cream for dry skin, but do not use it between your toes.
• Cut toenails straight across and smooth out sharp edges.
• Ask your doctor or nurse to examine your feet at every checkup.
• Wear proper shoes and socks even when indoors.
• Protect your feet from hot or cold conditions. Don't use heating pads or hot water bottles on your feet.
• Do not smoke. Smoking decreases the blood flow to your feet. Poor blood flow means slower healing and greater chance of infection.

Caring for your skin and teeth

People with diabetes need to be extra careful in taking care of their skin and teeth. Diabetes can cause problems with how the blood flows, how infections heal and how nerves are able to carry signals to various parts of the body. Regular care can help prevent these problems.

Diabetes skin care guidelines

• Bathe or shower every day using mild soap and slightly warm water.
• Use lotion or cream for dry skin, but do not use it between your toes.
• Use sunscreen whenever you are in the sun.
• If a cut, sore, or open wound is healing slowly, call your doctor.
• Talk to your doctor about any other skin problems, such as extreme itching or dryness.
• Protect your skin by wearing gloves when you do work that may injure your hands.
• Dress warmly in cold weather to prevent frostbite.

Diabetes dental care guidelines

You may have more problems with your teeth and gums if you have high blood glucose.

• Remind your dentist at each visit that you have diabetes.
• Brush at least two times a day and always before you go to sleep.
• Floss each day to help remove plaque from between your teeth.
• Get your teeth cleaned and checked by a dentist every 6 months.
• Don't smoke. This decreases blood flow and causes gum problems.

Related Links

Podiatry (foot care) specialists

Dermatology (skin care) specialists

Diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism specialists

Allina Medical Clinic - Diabetes Education

Dialog: Living with Diabetes (e-newsletter)

First published: 12/01/2006
Last updated: 12/01/2006

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts