Diabetic Senior Foot Care

As a diabetic, you stand a greater chance for foot infections. This can be a result of elevated blood glucose, lack of exercise, or an undetected foot injury. However, with proper care, the senior diabetic can avoid excessive and extreme foot and leg problems.—especially those of a neuropathic nature.

The three types of neuropathy for diabetics are peripheral,, focal, and autonomic. The peripheral is the form most likely to affect the feet. Consequently, an understanding of foot care for senior diabetics as well as treatments for neuropathy related problems is beneficial.

Basic Foot Care for the Senior Diabetic:

1. Daily self-examination for ulcers, corns, calluses, etc. if you are unable to do it yourself, ask someone to do it for you or use a mirror to see the bottom of your feet.
2. Keep feet clean and dry. Wash with a mild soap. Be sure that the skin between your toes is completely dry. If the skin is excessively dry, apply lotion.
3. Never go barefoot—especially important for foot care for the senior diabetic who has lost the feeling in their feet.
4. Always cut your toenails straight across.
5. Wear comfortable, properly fitting shoes--as much as possible, buy shoes made from leather as it allows your foot to “breathe”.
6. Never attempt to perform amateur surgery on your feet. See a doctor for calluses, corns, planter’s warts, etc.
7. See your doctor for Diabetes senior foot care and concerns like:

• An open sore/ulcer on your foot
• Any infection in a cut or blister
• A red, tender toe or an ingrown toenail
• Any change in how your foot feels—pain, tingling, numbing, burning, or no feeling at all
• Any type of puncture wound (nails, splinters, tack, etc.)
  

An additional step you can make in diabetic senior foot care and treatment is to become friendly with your pharmacist. The pharmacy industry stays aware of new methods and treatments. In addition, if your pharmacist is aware of your medical history and physical situation they can assist you with over the counter items for colds, congestion,  foot care and other physical ailments. Diabetic senior foot treatment should never involve, unless ordered by a doctor, the use of strong antiseptics like iodine, Epsom salts, creosol, or Mercurochrome. In diabetic senior foot care you should not use adhesive such as Band-Aids as they may damage the skin when removed. Rather, use sterile, dry bandages and fasten the dressing to itself with paper tape or gauze for better diabetic senior foot treatment.

In diabetic senior foot care, one of the greatest risks is a foot ulcer. Since an ulcer is painless (in most cases) it may go unnoticed for some time. However, once the ulcer is discovered, you should see your doctor immediately to begin diabetic senior foot treatment options like:

• Using a cream with 10-25% urea for dry skin
• Working with your doctor’s plan for treating the ulcer
• Quite often, your doctor will check your circulation to see what the best recourse will be.
  

Diabetes senior foot care may be daunting but it is worth it. By taking consistent steps in foot care, you can continue to stride into the future.

Diabetic Seniors Team

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