How to Take Care of Your Feet When you Have Diabetes

I’m sharing a “James story” with you today to demonstrate how important it is to take care of your feet when you have diabetes.

A “James story” is something that happened when I was married to my first husband, James, who had diabetes. He made some catastrophic mistakes in managing his diabetes because he simply didn’t know what to do. (This was prior to and inspiration for my subsequent career in helping people manage and learn about their diabetes). Since working with people with diabetes for over twenty years, I’ve met many others who have made similar errors. I don’t want you to go down that path.

James and I were away for a beach weekend in North Carolina. The sand there can get scorching hot. Around noon, we decided to walk to the car to get lunch. When we got to the parking lot I glanced down and saw James was barefoot. It looked like a bread bag was stuck to the bottom of his feet. Looking closer I saw his feet had burned and blistered and broken open. It was actually the bottom of his feet that was now looking like a bread bag around his feet. I cried at the horror of it.

James didn’t feel a thing. He had no feeling below his knees due to neuropathy, nerve damage, caused by unmanaged diabetes. He knew to wear shoes to protect his feet but for that five minute walk he let his guard down and failed to wear shoes.

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It took a lot of convincing, but we headed straight for a walk-in clinic. There the doctor informed us this was very serious and James could be facing amputation of his feet. We needed to get to the emergency room right away. I remember staff members at the clinic coming in to see what could happen to someone’s feet afflicted with diabetes. Finally, James was frightened (I was petrified the second I saw that “bread bag”). The doctor called ahead to the ER so that they would be ready for us. It took hours to clean every speck of sand out of his wounded feet. This is normally extremely painful and requires sedation. But James didn’t feel a thing. I was required to wait alone. It was excruciating.

Before leaving the hospital I had to learn how to clean, treat, and wrap his wounds. The nurse did one foot and I did the other. As I worked, I had tears streaming down my face. It looked like it would hurt so badly (and would, for someone without severe neuropathy). I continued this 3 times a day, an hour each time, for months. Eventually, his feet did heal, but it was an ordeal that was awful and preventable. (Unfortunately, later his long term failure to manage his diabetes ultimately led to his untimely death).

James had neuropathy because his blood sugar was too high and remained that way for years.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately half of all people with diabetes have some kind of nerve damage. Nerve damage from diabetes can manifest anywhere in the body but commonly affects the feet and legs. James lost all feeling, but others have tingling, burning, or pain. As soon as my bare feet hit the sand that day, the pain I felt informed me I needed shoes. James’ body no longer had that warning system. He paid a very high price for not having any feeling.
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​It’s important to protect your feet when you have diabetes. Here’s how:

• See a foot doctor (podiatrist) for a checkup yearly. The doctor will check for neuropathy and blood flow issues.
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• Wash your feet in warm (not hot) water daily. Dry them thoroughly, including between your toes. Do not soak your feet.
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• Apply lotion to the tops and bottoms of your feet, but not between your toes.
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• Inspect your feet every day. Look for cuts, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, and changes to the skin or nails. If you can’t see the bottoms of your feet, use a mirror or have someone else look.
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• Never go barefoot, even inside. Wear shoes, socks, and slippers to protect your feet.
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• Trim your nails straight across. If you can’t do this yourself have your podiatrist do it for you.
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• Check your shoes for rocks or uneven lining. (James had a nail that went through his shoe that punctured his foot. He didn’t feel it. If it has gone unnoticed for long, we would have faced more dire complications). Wearing light colored socks can help you see blood so you can treat the problem immediately.
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• Wear shoes that fit well. When shopping, try on shoes late in the day when your feet tend to be larger. Break new shoes in slowly and always wear socks.
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• Don’t remove corns and calluses yourself. Don’t use over-the-counter products because they can burn your skin.
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• Get your feet checked at every healthcare visit. If your provider doesn’t already check your feet, take your shoes and socks off and ask them to look.
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• Move your feet to improve circulation. Wiggle your toes and move. Walking and swimming are good activities to keep blood flowing to your feet. Ask your provider if you aren’t sure what activities are right for you.

​If you have any concerns about your feet, do not wait! Call for an appointment right away.

It’s important to get help early so that small problems don’t become big ones.​

“Diabetes that is well managed is the leading cause of …nothing.” Dr. William Polonsky

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​Seeing what diabetes did to James changed my life forever. I help people learn everything they need to know to manage their disease in my Flourish with Diabetes Program.