April is National Foot Awareness Month, and we want to spread the word about the importance of daily foot care for people living with diabetes. Simple foot assessment, care, and education saves limbs and improves quality of life.

5 Critical Education Points for Lower Extremities

• Inspect feet everyday for blisters, cuts, redness, sore or anything that doesn’t look right. Contact provider right away.
• If there are red marks on the foot after a person takes off their shoes, chances are, the shoes are too tight. Too tight of shoes are the leading cause of new ulcerations. There should be room in the toe box for the toes to wiggle.
• Dry feet can lead to skin cracks and infection. Apply non-perfumed lotion daily to top and bottom of feet.
• Evaluate the person’s ability to safely cut nails, especially if there is toenail fungus. Remind them to cut straight across and not to close to the quick. To soften nails, apply petroleum jelly 5 minutes before clipping or clip after a shower.
• Evaluate foot sensitivity and nerve health with a monofilament. You can request your monofilaments here.
• There are so many more tips that can save limbs. Please see the resource below for more detailed info and strategies.

Foot Care for a Lifetime – Educational brochure

Foot Assessment Form – from Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention Program (LEAP)

To learn more, you can purchase and view our Lower Extremity Webinar which details lower extremity assessment and teaching strategies.

Also contains foot deformity diagrams and visual instructions for the monofilament test and ABI calculation.

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