People who have had diabetes for a long time not only need to take extra care in the food they consume and their blood sugar levels, but they also need to take special care in maintaining healthy feet. Those with diabetes take longer for foot injuries to heal, which can lead to complications. In summer people are more exposed and are more frequently in contact with water.

Diabetic foot diseases can come in many different forms, but the most common forms are ulcers that cave in on the flesh of the heel, end of the toes or the soles of the feet. When there is an infection on the feet, the infection tends to spread across other areas rapidly in diabetic patients. Due to nerve complications, people with diabetic foot disease are unaware of their injuries because of the abnormality of the senses on the peripheral nerve and the impairment of blood circulation in the legs from blood vessel complications.

Diabetic foot disease in adults is one of the main conditions that leads to amputation, and in most of these cases, having no concern for one’s status with diabetes leads to this consequence. Hence, when people pay more attention to diabetic foot disease, the disease can be prevented or treated at an early stage.

People should therefore ensure that injuries are avoided by taking extra caution, and when injuries do occur (whether significant or not) it is important that they are treated as soon as possible. When diabetic foot disease occurs despite taking these precautions, people should visit the hospital immediately for early treatment.

Steps to avoid diabetic foot disease are as follows:

1. Smokers should immediately quit smoking.

2. Check at least once a day for signs of scratches, punctured wounds or blisters on the feet.

3. Wash feet and then dry well.

4. Be cautious of hot or cold, and always check the temperature of the water before taking a bath.

5. Avoid walking around in bare feet.

6. Wear soft shoes that fit well, and always check the inside of the shoes before wearing them. Avoid wearing sandals.

7. Trim toenails straight and do not mindlessly get rid of calluses.

8. Ensure that socks fit comfortably around the feet and try to fold down the neck of the socks from the ankle to help the circulation of blood.

9. Crossing legs is bad for blood flow in the legs and should therefore be avoided.

When people with diabetes take special care with their lifestyle, further complications that arise from diabetic foot disease can most likely be prevented.

Key points to taking care of your feet in summer

1. Always wash your feet clean.

2. Keep your feet cool and dry.

3. Always keep an eye on the condition of your feet.

4. Treat athlete’s foot immediately.

By Kim Kwang-won

The author is a professor of Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine division of endocrinology & metabolism and doctor at Samsung Medical Centers.