Foot Care
Looking after your Feet in 6 easy steps
  1. Look at your feet daily – you might need to use a mirror.
    1. Look For :
      1. Cuts
      2. Cracks or breaks in the skin
      3. Ingrown toenails
      4. Corns
      5. Blisters
      6. Redness or swelling
      7. Callus
      8. Tinea
      9. Thick nail plates
    2. If you have any of these problems you should see your podiatrist straight away
    3. NEVER use corn pads or plasters or strong antiseptics. See your podiatrist straight away
    4. NEVER attempt to treat corns, callous or ingrown toenails yourself

  2. NEVER go barefoot – not even in the house.


  3. Avoid heat
    1. Don’t sit too close to an open fire or heater
    2. Only use an electric blanket on low – switch it off before going to bed
    3. Don’t use a hot water bottle on your feet or legs
    4. NEVER walk barefoot on concrete or sand

  4. Choose properly fitting footwear
    1. Always buy shoes in the afternoon. Make sure they are properly fitting:
      1. wide, deep toebox
      2. long enough
    2. Features of appropriate footwear :
      1. wide heel base
      2. made of soft leather upper
      3. no seems on the inside that rub on a pressure area
      4. firm heel counter (back of shoe)
      5. enclosed – preferably not sandals
      6. leather, suede, elasticized upper (if hammer toes or deformities)
      7. seemless leather inner
      8. soft-soled – flexible rubber
      9. low heel
      10. lace-up or velcro closing
      11. no tight spots
    3. Wear shoes in at the home for 20 hours before wearing them outside
    4. Make sure your shoes are in good condition, if not, replace them

  5. Treat injuries immediately
    1. Wash foot
    2. Pat dry
    3. Cover with non-adherent dressing fixed with tape from pharmacy
    4. Change dressing daily

  6. Visit your podiatrist at least annually :
    1. for examination of your neurovascular status
    2. chiropody/general treatment – debridement of corns and callous

Your podiatrist will liaise with your doctor and depending on your risk category for developing diabetic foot disease, he will give advice on the recommended frequency of visits.

If you are a smoker, we recommend you take steps to quit immediately.


Advice from your Podiatrist
  1. Nail cutting :
    1. Cut nails straight
    2. File off the corners
    3. Never cut down the sides
    4. Never cut the cuticles
  2. If you have dry feet :
    1. Nightly before bed, after washing and drying the feet, apply hand lotion to the hard skin areas of the feet
    2. Massage well into the skin
    3. DO NOT use in between the toes
    4. If putting on shoes after applying cream, wipe off excess so the foot is not slippery.
    5. Only use unperfumed creams e.g. Du’it, Nivea, Baby Lotion, Neutrogena, diabetic specialty products
  3. If you have sweaty feet :
    1. After washing feet with soap and water, dry well especially between the toes
    2. Apply either an alcohol wipe (available from your pharmacy) or use surgical spirit on a cottom wool ball
    3. Change socks & footwear at least 2 times per day
  4. If you have interdigital maceration :
    1. After washing your feet (shower, bath, swimming or for prayer), dry between the toes with a clean towel.
    2. Apply either an alcohol wipe (available from your pharmacy) or use surgical spirit on a cottom wool ball
    3. DO NOT use creams or talcum powders between your toes unless advised by the Podiatrist to do so.
    4. Never cut the cuticles
  5. If you are being treated for an ulcer your Podiatrist may advise the following between visits to the clinic :
    1. Wash your foot/feet in a clean bowl with warm (DO NOT USE HOT WATER) salt water (2 teaspoons of salt to 2 liters water) or soapy water (2 squirts of liquid soap or use a bar of soap until the water is soapy)
    2. Pat dry the feet thoroughly with a clean towel especially between the toes