Foot Care: A Guide For Older Adults With Diabetes

Foot disorders are a common – and painful – part of growing old.

An estimated 80 percent of people over 50 suffer from at least one foot problem. Older adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes are especially at risk for age-related foot conditions that may limit their ability to walk, increase their risk for falls, and damage nerves causing loss feeling in the feet and painful foot ulcers. If foot conditions do not respond to treatment, amputation of affected parts of the foot may be required. The good news is that careful daily management blood sugar with a combination of diet, exercise and medications can prevent or control serious foot disorders.

Managing Foot Symptoms

Regular foot checkups by your relative's primary care doctor are essential to maintaining healthy feet. If symptoms of a foot problem occur the doctor may refer your parent to a podiatrist for additional evaluations and treatment recommendations.

Common foot problems in older people include:

• Neuropathy – loss of feeling in the feet
• Athlete's foot or other fungus infections of feet or toenails
• Corns & calluses
• Sores & ulcers
• Bunions
• Ingrown toenails
• Hammer toes

Early identification of foot problems will help prevent serious foot complications. Older adults who have diabetes are especially susceptible to foot problems and need to give their feet special attention every day.

Healthy Feet Routines

Older feet require special attention and lots of TLC to remain healthy especially in people with diabetes. Feet should be examined daily for blisters, redness, swelling, excessive dryness (especially on top of the foot, toes, and between toes), cuts, sores, or fungus on toenails or between the toes. A hand mirror is helpful for checking the soles of the feet and heels where blisters and calluses often form. Encourage your parent to make a "foot check" a regular part of his daily routine so that foot problems or injuries can be treated promptly.

Feet should be washed daily with warm water and soap and dried thoroughly – especially between the toes. Using foot lotion or cream will help prevent dryness. Your parent should wear shoes and socks or slippers – indoors and out – at all times. If cold feet keep your parent awake at night wearing socks to bed will keep her feet warm and comfortable.

Toenails also need regular trimming to prevent in-grown or painfully long nails. Because of poor vision, arthritis or other conditions many older people have trouble managing regular foot care themselves. Ask your family's podiatrist if he or she schedules regular "toenail trim" appointments for older patients. Encourage your parent to make special effort to care for his or her feet. Serious foot disorders can develop more quickly in people with diabetes, are harder to manage, and can seriously affect ability to walk.

Choosing Shoes

Choosing the right shoe is essential for maintaining good foot health for people with diabetes. Poorly fitting shoes can cause blisters, corns, calluses and falls in older adults. Older adults with diabetes should avoid going without shoes – either indoors or out. If your parent is shoe-shopping, suggest that he or she buy shoes in a shoe store instead of a department store. Feet change over the years and so do shoe sizes. Shoe store staff will measure his feet and help him find a shoe in the correct shoe size and a style he likes. Your parent should take time to walk around the store to see if it fits well. When your parent is trying on shoes, the most important question you can ask is "Is it comfortable?"

Caregiving Tips for Healthy Feet

There are small every-day things you as a caregiver can do to help and older parent, spouse or other relative with diabetes maintain the best possible foot health.

Some suggestions that are good for her – and for you too:

• Relax – have a footstool handy so your family member can put his feet up when she sits down. Elevating feet help promote blood circulation.
• Stop smoking
• Wiggle toes or gently massage while watching TV to keep them flexible.
• Tight socks, nylons or garters interfere with circulation and should be avoided
• Regular exercises like walking, swimming, yoga or tai chi are easy on feet and promote your parent's overall physical (and mental) health.
• Discard poorly fitting slippers that might cause falls.
• If your older relative sits a lot during the day encourage her get up and walk around the house or yard for a few minutes to keep blood flowing.