Summertime Foot Care for Patients with Diabetes

Depending on the conditions, the heat and dryness of summer can accelerate fluid loss. The feet are particularly susceptible to drying out as they do not contain as many protective oil glands as other parts of the skin.

Be prudent in your application of moisturizer. Use only a thin layer for the top and bottom of each foot, and do not put any between your toes. Just like those pools and locker rooms above, the space between your toes is a good place for trapping moisture and warmth—just what fungus loves.

If you do plan to spend more time in open-toed footwear such as sandals (and sandals with good, protective arch support and straps are way better than flip-flops, which you should simply not be wearing), you will want to keep your toenails in check.

You should always keep your toenails neatly trimmed, but summer is an especially important time. If your nails are long and jagged, you are more likely cut yourself on them without being aware of it. But even when you are in shoes and socks, “snaggy” toenail edges can catch the inside of your sock and damage the nail.

When you trim your nails, always use the same, clean pair of trimmers and cut straight across to help avoid ingrown toenails. If your corners are sharp, use a nail file or emery board to lightly take the edges off.

Keeping track of what’s happening at foot level will always be the number one best way to care for your feet especially if you have diabetes. Detecting problems early means we can do something about them before they have a chance to develop into ulcers, infections, and other serious problems.

Look for any sort of injuries, cuts, bruising, discoloration, ingrown toenails, warts, fungus—basically anything on your feet that really should not be there. If you do see something, give us a call so we can keep it in our records. We may just ask you to keep an eye on it for the next few days, but we will schedule an appointment with you if it sounds like a more immediate concern.

Diabetic Foot Care for All Seasons