Winter Do’s and Don’ts for Protecting Your Feet with Diabetes

If you have diabetes, we at Goldsmith Podiatry have special concerns about the health of your feet. Poor circulation, neuropathy, or loss of sensation in your feet and decreased immune system function are all associated with diabetes. This combination can have very detrimental effects on your feet. Many common podiatric problems, such as athlete’s feet, ingrown toenails, and blisters, which would be considered minor by most patients can pose a major health threat to diabetic patients. You can reduce your risk of complications by following some simple do’s and don’ts.

Do: focus on keeping your feet dry. Bad weather and overheated cars, shops and offices can result in feet stuck in damp socks for long periods of time. That creates a perfect breeding ground for fungal infections. Keep a spare pair of socks with you and change as soon as you notice your feet feel moist.

Don’t: expose your feet directly to space heaters, fireplaces or use an electric blanket on them. Nerve damage can make it difficult to accurately assess how hot it is and result in burns on the skin of your feet.

Don’t: be tempted to squeeze your feet into tight shoes or those with high heels just to make a festive fashion statement. Shoes that fit poorly can cause blisters and ulcers on your feet that may prove difficult to heal and even allow an infection to develop.

Do: keep up with your podiatric hygiene routing. Wash your feet every day and dry completely. Be extra diligent about the skin between your toes—that is often the starting point for athlete’s foot.

Don’t: forget to apply a rich, emollient moisturizer to your heels each night and then slip on a pair of soft cotton socks to help it absorb better. Dry air can exacerbate the lack of moisture that sometimes afflicts patients with diabetes and can lead to heel cracks and fissures.

Do: inspect your feet every day for changes or unusual symptoms. If you notice any red spots, bruising, blisters, swelling, rashes, or other concerning signs of a possible developing problem, promptly contact our Upper West Side Manhattan office by calling: (212) 877-1002. Our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia, will examine your feet and determine if there is an issue that needs to be treated.