Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines

By following these guidelines, you can greatly reduce your risk for serious foot problems.

Hygiene:

  • Wash feet daily
  • Blot dry, always dry in between your toes
  • Use lotion for dry skin
  • Choose white cotton or wool socks
  • If your feet sweat use powder to prevent Athlete’s Foot
  • Do not try to cut your own toenails

Proper Shoes:

  • Diabetic Shoes with inserts are essential in preventing issues if you have sensation loss
  • Shoes should be fitted later in the day to account for swelling
  • New shoes should only be worn for a short period of time with periodic foot checks
  • Find out more about South Hills Foot and Ankle’s Custom Diabetic Shoe Program. 

Prevention:

  • Check your feet or have a family member check your feet every day. Use a mirror to check the bottoms of your feet.
  • Wear shoes and socks at all times, especially in the house.
  • If you notice any new lesion, redness, or swelling call the office immediately, do not wait!
  • Never cut a corn with a knife or razor
  • Do not use chemical corn removers
  • Do not soak your feet unless otherwise advised by your doctor. Burns are common in patients with diabetes due to sensation loss in the feet.
  • Blisters should be check immediately, call the office if any are noticed.
  • Don’t use heating pads on the feet or legs
  • Don’t smoke this greatly decreases the amount of blood flow to your feet
  • If you have any abnormal sensations or burning in your feet, notify the office immediately and make an appointment.

For more in-depth information about Diabetic Foot Care, visit www.sterishoe.com.

Mt. Lebanon office

412-563-1440

McMurray office

724-969-4002

Moon Twp office

412-262-3003