Protecting Your Feet in the Summer
Foot care
Author Scarlet Baker
Protecting Your Feet in the Summer With summer approaching, it’s essential to know how to protect your feet. Everyone’s feet are sensitive, especially if you have diabetes. What are some overall ways to keep your feet healthy? How can you protect your feet in the summer? Information about diabetes can be found everywhere. Here is a place to help you get started.
Foot Care
People with diabetes can have nerve damage, circulation issues, and infections, leading to serious foot problems. Therefore, foot care is essential in maintaining healthy feet. Here are some of the best ways that you can keep healthy feet:
General Care
As a person with diabetes, here are ways to help you have healthy feet.
- Inspect your feet
- Wash your feet
- Dry your feet
- Moisturize dry skin
Inspect your feet
Inspect your feet by checking the tops, sides, soles, heels, and the area between the toes. Use a mirror or ask someone to help you if you cannot do that. Call your doctor immediately if you find any sores, redness, cuts, blisters, or bruises.
Wash and dry your feet
Wash your feet daily with warm water and mild soap. Harsher soaps and hot water can be damaging to your skin. As a person with diabetes, it can be challenging to feel the temperature of the water with your feet. Be sure to check the water temperature with your fingers or elbow.
Dry your feet
Infections can often happen in moist areas. Pat your feet dry, including between your toes.
Moisturize dry skin
If the skin on your feet feels rough or dry, use lotion or oil. Do not use cream between your toes.
Summer Care
Everyone loves sandals in the summer. As we’ve already discussed, being diabetic has its risks when it comes to foot health. Here are some important ways to protect your feet in the summer.
- Maintain correct glucose levels
- Don’t go barefoot
- Choose the best socks and shoes
- Examine your feet every day
- Moisturize for smooth skin
- Shape your toenails properly
- Treat sweaty feet
Maintain correct glucose levels
Be sure to consult your doctor to help maintain the correct blood sugar levels. It’s essential to eat a healthy, balanced diet. You should also be monitoring your blood sugar and taking your prescribed medication. Regular exercise benefits everyone; however, this is especially important to help maintain and regulate blood sugars.
Don’t go barefoot
Sensitive feet shouldn’t go barefoot in the summer. Be careful not to walk carelessly on the beach. There are sharp rocks, broken glass, and sea debris. These can cause damage to your feet which can lead to infection. Hot sand and sidewalks have the potential to burn your feet, so proper outdoor footwear are essential.
Choose the best socks and shoes.
Do socks and shoes matter? The answer is “yes.” If your shoes are too tight or small, it can cause calluses and blisters. Feet can typically change sizes about four to five times; your weight can vary, and poor circulation and weather can adjust the height of your feet.
Examine your feet every day
Examine your feet before you put your shoes on and after you take them off. Look between your toes, on your heel, and in your shoe for any broken skin or redness areas.
Moisturize for smooth skin
During the summer, it’s easy for everyone’s feet to dry. If you have diabetes, you must keep your feet lotioned and moisturized. Apply lotion to the top and bottom of your feet. Don’t lotion between your toes, as excess moisture can result in a fungal infection.
Shape your toenails properly
Cut your toenails straight across and file the edges of the nails to reduce the risk of ingrown toenails.
Treat sweaty feet
Your feet get sweaty, smelly, and moist in the summer. This can lead to an athlete’s foot. To avoid this, you should take preventative steps such as wearing cotton socks, changing them often, and taking your shoes off when you’re at home to let your feet breathe.
Foot Health
There are several simple ways to take care of your feet.
- See a podiatrist regularly to treat foot problems
- Stabilize and relieve feet with orthotic shoes
- Go easy on your feet with low-impact exercises
- Control your blood sugar to avoid diabetic neuropathy
- Check with your care team for help
- Quit smoking to improve circulation in your feet
See a podiatrist regularly to treat foot problems.
Don’t ignore your feet. Make sure you include a podiatrist as a part of your healthcare team. A podiatrist can treat any problems rather than you using an over-the-counter option which can cause infections and other issues.
Stabilize and relieve feet with orthotic shoes
Orthotics are an excellent investment for healthy feet. It’s essential to make sure your feet are well supported. Many specialty and online stores sell shoes specifically for people with diabetes.
Go easy on your feet with low-impact exercises
Exercise is not one size fits all. Many aerobic classes incorporate jumping, bouncing, and leaping. This isn’t good for your feet, especially if you have neuropathy. Swimming or walking would be much better low-impact exercise options.
Control your blood sugar to avoid diabetic neuropathy
Neuropathy can happen because of out-of-control blood sugar. Be sure you’re watching your blood sugar, so your feet stay healthy for as long as possible.
Check with your care team for help.
Having the right healthcare team is essential for your health. If you have diabetes, including a podiatrist should be a high priority.
As a person with diabetes, you risk fungal infections due to heat and extra moisture. Because of this, it’s crucial to see a podiatrist regularly. Visiting your podiatrist at least once during the summer can guarantee that you keep your feet as healthy and happy as possible.
Quit smoking to improve circulation in your feet
The chemicals in a cigarette can damage and constrict your blood vessels. If you’re a smoker, you are depriving your feet of nutrient, oxygen-rich blood that fights infection and keeps your feet healthy.
Finally, as a person with diabetes, reading about diabetes and having healthy feet in the summer months should be at the top of your list.
Katie Meyers is an SEO Specialist at SEO Design Chicago. Before joining the SEO Design Chicago team, she interned for them and as a Content Writer at HZD Creates. Katie is from Washington State and has an AA and a Social Media Marketing Certificate. She enjoys Gonzaga men’s and women’s basketball and spending time with her dog, family, and friends. Katie likes reading and taking a variety of classes. Her favorite places to visit include the Oregon coast and a local lake cabin.
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