The Do's & Don'ts for Diabetic Footcare

How do you tend to your feet? If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you know that your entire relationship to your body changes. OAL Podiatrist, Dr. David Calderone is here for you! He specializes in diabetic foot care, heel & arch pain, metatarsalgia, bunions, arthritis, neuromas and nail & skin care. Dr. Calderone’s dedication and prompt treatment to his patients prevents any prolonged interruptions to activity to continue living a productive life!

DO's

• Inspect your feet daily, including the bottoms, for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling or nail problems.
• Regularly moisturize your feet to avoid itching or cracking.
• Get periodic foot exams from a foot and ankle surgeon to prevent complications – they can reduce risk of amputation by 45-85 percent.
• Keep the blood flowing to your feet; wiggle your toes and move your ankles for 5 minutes, 2-3 times a day.
• Shake out your shoes and feel for objects inside before wearing; you may not feel a small foreign object when your shoe is on your foot.
• Maintain healthy blood sugar levels; out-of-control blood sugar levels can lead to nerve cell damage.

DON'TS

• Never use heating pads, hot water bottles or electric blankets; you can easily burn your feet without noticing.
• Don’t put your feet in hot water – test with your hand first.
• Don’t try to remove corns or calluses – visit your foot and ankle surgeon for appropriate treatment.
• Don’t wear tight, elastic or thick, bulky socks.
• Don’t let your feet get wet in snow or rain – wear warm socks and waterproof shoes in the winter.
• Don’t walk barefoot, even at home!You can easily get a scratch or cut.

If you are experiencing diabetic problems with your feet or ankles we are here to help. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Calderone call (717) 299-4871 or request an apoointment today.