Self-Help Guide for Diabetic Patients
Apart from your regular appointments, we annually check for the condition known as neuropathy. This is done at your GP’s surgery too. We use a monofilament, a tuning fork and a cold tip to test, this is all totally painless.
Neuropathy means “altered perception of sensation” not numb feet which is the common misinterpretation. A patient may have a sense of numbness and pain on the same foot. A burning sensation is another common complication.
These top tips may be of help to you.
1. Check your feet for signs of rubbing or chafing weekly and check the insides of footwear against rucks in the lining or faulty stitching.
2. Make sure your socks are not tight and the seams aren’t rubbing your toes.
3. Don’t wear slippers all day as there is little or no support for your arches, choose a house shoe with a supportive heel cup to keep you steady. According to the Falls prevention agency, most falls in the home are caused by ill-fitting slippers.
4. Don’t soak your feet and dry gently between the toes. Check for white soft skin that peels in between the toes, it may or may not itch. This will probably be Tinea Pedis or Athletes foot. Your chemist will be able to advise a topical treatment. Don’t forget to take your prescription with you so the pharmacist can check the treatment is suitable
5. When out and about always keep a list of your medication on your person at all times. It can be vital to other health professionals, paramedics etc.
Wishing you good health and thank you for reading.
