I’ve been type 1 for 28 years now. It’s no secret that I only bothered to care for my diabetes in just the past two years. This neglect and rebellion extends to foot care. As diabetics we tend to be warned and encouraged to care for our feet more than a non-diabetic needs to. I always thought the doctors took it a bit far. Things like, examine your feet thoroughly everyday, and don’t wear open toed shoes, etc. I just thought it was ridiculous.
Now that I suffer from neuropathy and retinopathy (eye disease) I find that I am more clumsy, unstable, and less aware of immediate injuries because I don’t feel my feet as well. I have injured two toes fairly bad in scrapping and stubbing accidents over the past few months. I might add that I still refuse to wear closed toe shoes (because I’m stubborn and dumb like that, they just aren’t comfortable).
My question for discussion here (beyond general replies and opinions) is, do you, and have you always, listened to and followed your doctor’s advice for diabetic foot care? I’m sure starting to.
No i don’t always listen. The endo “examines” my feet everytime I go and it’s not that good of an inspection. He gets out his monofilament little thingys and I feel everthing. I wish my feet were number but no mine are painful.
I guess open toes shoes are better than none. I’ve gone barefooted in my house because the cold floors cools down the “fire” in my toes. I’ve also have gone to the doctor to get glass out of my feet because I can’t see the glass in them, so the skin grows around the glass and I won’t let it stay there.
I try to visually look for sores around the toes because I’m paranoid. But really I don’t worry about it. Ulcers and Skin Infections occur when blood sugar is high.
I do take care of my eyes but it’s a losing battle. I’m preparing to be blind sometime in the future. I’ve had several laser treatments and a 7.1 a1c isn’t low enough to stop the progression, it seems. The doc wanted to do the shots but I had a recent heart attack so he couldn’t do it. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not.
I do think examining the feet is a little over the top.
I am visually impaired and have always taken excellent care of my feet. My husband cuts my toe nails. I use gold bond diabetic skin cream 2x a day. I wear good shoes, Keen closed toe sandals, and solid bottom slippers. Water shoes in the pool. After 24 years and No problems I appreciate the extra care. Nancy
Never had a foot exam, and don’t really bother about my feet at all.
Maybe because I am only 7 years into this and have pretty good control, I can continue to believe that I won’t have a problem and an continue to act as if I were not diabetic when it comes to feet.
I keep an eye on my feet but am pretty comfortable wearing flip-flops, Birkenstocks, and strolling around without shoes on so far. I am getting concerned about not being able to see my toenails well enough to really trim them accurately, the distance is in the wrong spot for my glasses any way I slice it.
I’ve had some ferocious problems with calf cramps running, like > 10 miles, one session of which led to a 1x4x5 cm hematoma in my calf, my leg swelling enormously and foot turning black and blue as the blood pooled in my foot. I also encountered some interesting information about peripheral vascular disease and had a chat with a coworker about her own venous issues and this all prompted me to make an appointment with vascular doctor which will be in a week. I’ll be intrigued if he 1) finds anything and 2) can fix it.
I have a really strong family history for peripheral neurophathy (almost everyone on my mother’s side of the family has it; none of them have diabetes though), so making sure my feet are taken care of is a priority. Though I’m guilty of not checking my feet on an everyday basis, I do give my feet a really thorough look-over, moisturize, and pedicure at least one a week and slather on lotion any time they start feeling dry.
I’ve given up wearing open-toed shoes when I’m outside of the house (excluding the occasional quarter-mile walk to the pool in flip flops), but it’s because my feet are incredibly ugly and I know wounds on my feet are slower to heal than other parts of my body. I don’t wear any shoes while inside the house.
PS. There’s no way I’m switching to those hideous diabetic shoes until absolutely necessary. That is the one thing I am not compromising on.
Been doing this for 44 years and for the first 20 not a big priority. I’m usually barefoot around the house and the backyard but otherwise always wear shoes. Nothing special just shoes. Feet are checked every visit with vibration test. Still happy to say no nerve problems and great pulse down there. I have seen he foot doctor a few times over the years but just check them every couple days and use cream on them every night. Keeping my fingers crossed it keeps up his way. Whenever your feet or back hurt, you are miserable
I really did not pay much attention to foot care until 50+ when my Doctors started warning me that my age + diabetes + neurophathy = foot problems. Now I never go without closed shoes (ever) even at home I always keep some protection on my feet. I have also gone to a foot care specialist. I lost a friend in 2008, his illness started with a foot ulcer and after being hospitalized for a T cell a treatment on the sore he caught pneumonia and never recovered…was a big wake-up call for me.
I follow most of the basic advice I was given at diagnosis except for not using hot water- I love hot showers. I look at my feet everyday after I shower. I use a moisturizer high in urea to get rid of some dry skin that started to develop this winter. I did all of this before anyway except for an inspection. I wear comfy shoes that fit properly etc. I go to a podiatrist once a year- my endo never looks at my feet. I recommend crocs rx cloud light II clogs for anyone with pain/neuropathy/other foot & back issues. They are so comfortable. They have reduced my pain and made walking a pleasure again. I still wear super padded sneakers for longer walks, otherwise I’m wearing these all the time now, inside and out. Any time I put my other shoes on it’s too uncomfortable now Dr. Scholls dance clogs are very comfy too if you want a heel and some of the crocs weggie sandals, although the last ones were binding my feet so I sent them back. Due to my back issues I have needed a very soft soled shoe for a while now to eliminate pain. It’s hard to find one that fits my foot also, narrow heal and wider front of foot with long toes.
I’ve had diabetes for 24 years and have never really been told what to do with feet. I’ve read about it in books, but that’s about it. My endocrinologist has checked my feet a few times, and I always have full feeling and no issues.
I’m legally blind (since birth), but I cut my own toenails and have full sensation in my feet. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m way more aware of my feet than most people because they warn me about where I’m about to step and I also use cues like the texture of the ground to stay oriented when I travel in lighting that isn’t good for my vision or for tactile cues like those around bus stops or the edges of train platforms.
The one serious foot issue I’ve had is about 10 years ago when I went to stand up from a chair and my foot slid on the carpet and my toe got sliced open from hitting the edge of a floor vent. That needed stitches, but it healed well and took no longer than it would have for someone without diabetes.
I do wear good shoes, primarily because I have fairly heavy-duty custom orthotics (due to flat feet and other issues) and therefore I can’t wear most of the sandals and flip flops out there. The only place I wear flip flops is on the pool deck and change room. At home I walk around in bare feet or socks.
I do think that if I had neuropathy, or had any experience with foot problems caused by diabetes, I’d be a lot more careful about checking and maintaining my feet daily.
With Diabetes, taking good care of our feet is an ABSOLUTE must!
Over time the blood flow down to the feet can become somewhat diminished and any kind of cut or scrape can quickly become infected. That is the reason for amputations among D’s.
My endo told me many years ago to wear slippers at home. I do so and always have them left on floor at bedside when I go to sleep; step right into them upon awakening.
I also keep a tube of Bacitracin zinc on hand just in case because I once incurred a small cut upon cutting my toenails. And, just to be safe, most hospitals have D feet clinics.
Attention to our feet is of the utmost importance
Maybe its just me, but I found since being diagnosed with diabetes that my feet are way more sensitive. Esp when I slightly stub my toe, oh man so painful. I go barefoot around the house most of the time and I wear flipflops and slip ons a lot. There have been a couple of times my feet felt slightly numb in spots but my alc was also not that great at the time. For the most part, my alc has been around 6 +/- a little and my feet feel good.
On occasion, I do feel a slight burning sensation in my feet esp when I run and/or walk for long periods of time.
I inspect my feet a lot and wear foot cream but I’ve noticed I hardly get sores or infections on my feet.
I do feel foot care is important but I don’t think podiatry coverage is big on my insurance. I looked a couple years ago, but I will have to take a gander at it again. I was told to see a podiatrist once every couple of years if my feet are in good working order. BTW, I was also told that some neuropathy is normal for diabetics but you don’t want it to escalate.
6 or 7 years ago here we had a very active member @Lois2. I can’t remember the exact circumstances, but she lost a leg over something that was totally preventable. It really affected me, and I’ve never gone outside barefoot since. I wear slippers while in the house generally. It’s gotten so I feel rather vulnerable without something on my feet. I check my feet every day too when I put on my socks. I don’t have the best circulation so I feel it’s a good idea to take care of my feet.
[quote=“erice, post:17, topic:46455, full:true”]
lol boo-boos & thank karen57 for the link.
[/quote]You are welcome. Take care of your dogs ( another silly word for feet )
As a new Diabetic 43 years ago, I as introduced to a diabetic in her 20’s who had lost her leg at the knee because she had not looked after her feet and or diabetes. I was 7years old. I was told by my mum that it was my responsibility to always wear shoes and look after my feet. I always look after my feet and always wear shoes that fit well. Regarding everything else and diabetes, I am like everyone else had good and bad times.
before I was discharged from the hospital at diagnosis, I attended 4 diabetes education classes. One of the classes covered foot care and showed pictures of fairly gross complications from lack of care. Combined with the fact that I have very wide feet I felt forced into wearing “walking” sneakers and wool socks!. Really it’s the worst concession I’ve had to make for D you can’t go back in time - but things could be worse (I’ve seen it) and it sounds like you are ready to start a new routine - good luck!
Dr. Scholls dance clogs are very comfy too if you want a heel and some of the crocs weggie sandals, although the last ones were binding my feet so I sent them back. Due to my back issues I have needed a very soft soled shoe for a while now to eliminate pain. It’s hard to find one that fits my foot also, narrow heal and wider front of foot with long toes.
you can’t go back in time - but things could be worse (I’ve seen it) and it sounds like you are ready to start a new routine - good luck!