Foot Protection

Protect your feet from the heat and the cold. Allowing your feet to become cold will decrease the sensation in them. In cold climates, wear thicker socks and shoes or boots that are lined with soft insulation. In addition, good blood circulation is important in keeping your feet warm. Avoid wearing tight socks or shoes and crossing your legs or standing in one place for extended periods. Especially avoid smoking tobacco because it decreases blood flow, resulting in cold feet. Protecting your feet from heat is just as important as protecting them from the cold. Avoid walking barefoot on heated surfaces such as hot asphalt or concrete. And remember to protect your skin by using sunscreen on your feet as well as on other exposed areas when you've in the sun.

Being proactive by doing foot checks before you encounter a problem is the most important part of good foot care. Talk with your health care team after you come up with a plan for the care of your feet to ensure that you have covered all of your bases. To find more information on foot care, visit www.ndep.nih.gov (a Web site of the National Institutes of Health) and www.diabetes.org (a Web site of the American Diabetes Association), or do a search online for diabetic foot care.