Guide to Skin Care Habit For Diabetic Patient
Why Worry?
Poor blood glucose (sugar) control increases risk for skin and foot infection. Nerve damage due to diabetes also makes you less likely to feel pain. If the foot or skin is injured, wounds may heal slowly. If the wound is not treated correctly, severe infection can lead to gangrene and amputation.
What Needs to Be Done?
Wash your feet and skin daily with nondrying soap. Test the water with your elbow instead of your hand or foot to make sure that it is not too hot. Pat yourself dry. Use lotion on your feet and skin, but not between your toes. Lotion between the toes helps bacteria to grow.
Inspect your feet and skin daily. Look for the following signs:
* Red spots
* Dry skin
* Calluses
* Flaking skin
* Cuts
* Ingrown nails
If you cannot see your entire foot, use a mirror, or have someone else look for you. Call the doctor if you are concerned about any wound. If the problem is serious, you may need to see a podiatrist, who specializes in foot care, or a dermatologist, who treats skin problems.
To Prevent Foot Injuries
* Never go barefoot, even for a short distance.
* Shop for shoes in the late afternoon, when your feet tend to be larger.
* Always wear comfortable shoes that have been broken in slowly.
* Wear flat shoes with good arch support and a wide toe base.
* Rarely, if ever, wear high-heeled shoes.
* Wear shoes made from leather with cotton socks.
* Shake out your shoes before you put them on, to remove any object that may have gotten into them, such as a pebble or tack.
* Cut toenails straight across, and file off rough edges. Have a podiatrist (foot doctor) or nurse trained in foot care do this if your nails are too thick to cut.
* Only have the doctor treat corns, calluses, or ingrown toenails. Never treat them yourself.
* Wear wool or cotton socks to keep your feet warm and dry. Throw away heating pads and hot water bottles. They could burn your feet and skin.
* Each time you see the doctor, take off your shoes and socks. Most of all, get your diabetes under good control. You may need help from your medical team with your meal plan, exercise, or diabetes medicine. All the foot and skin care in the world is worthless if you don’t manage your diabetes well.
Questions to Ask
1. Do I inspect my feet daily for wounds or infection?
2. Do I wash and care for my feet and skin properly?
3. Does my doctor examine my feet each time I visit?
4. Do I choose the right shoes?
5. Is there anything that I can do to improve my diabetes control?
Good skin care habits are important. When you have diabetes, you want to look good and stay healthy.
Here are a few tips for skin care.
1. Use a mild soap with warm or lukewarm water on a daily basis.
2. Dry yourself very well with a soft towel.
3. Use a skin softener, lotion, or cream on dry skin.
4. Use a mild powder such as baby powder after bathing.
5. Use a sunscreen to avoid sunburn. SPF 10-15 is best.
6. Avoid scratches, punctures, and other injuries to your skin.
7. If you do have an injury, take care of it as soon as possible. (See tips below for how to take care of an injury.)
Our skin is protection for our bodies.
A lifetime of healthy skin is very important, so please avoid these things on your skin:
1. Do not use strong or heavily perfumed soaps.
2. Do not let your skin become too dry. Dry skin cracks, making it easier for infection to start.
3. Do not use harsh lotions, or medicated or perfumed powder.
4. Do not stay in the hot sun too long.
5. Do not walk on hot sand or pavement without shoes.
6. Do not use a heating pad, hot water bottle, or very hot water.
7. Do not use iodine, boric acid, alcohol, or antiseptic lotions on a wound.
Sometimes we do get injured. Here are some tips to treat your wounds:
1. Take care of cuts or wounds as soon as possible.
2. Wash the area well with water.
3. Cover the wound with a dry, sterile pad or bandage.
4. Go to the clinic if cuts or bruises do not heal within 2 or 3 days.
5. Go to the clinic if you see any signs of infection.
Here are signs of infection:
* redness
* swelling
* warmth
* rash
* pain
* drainage
