Protect Diabetic Feet This Summer

While it might feel great to kick off your shoes and feel the grass beneath your feet during the summer, it's important that people with diabetes remember they're more prone to foot-related complications and continue to take measures to prevent them.

Here are four tips to protect diabetic feet during the summer:

1. Forget the flip-flops. While flip-flops and other sandals allow feet to feel cooler, they're not supportive. Instead, consider a breathable, well-fitted athletic shoe that offers both support and comfort.
2. Don't overlook small cuts and scrapes. Many diabetics underestimate the havoc that can be wrought by a scrape, open blister or superficial cut. Diabetes lowers the body's natural defense against bacteria, thereby opening the door for cellulitis to set in. This infection can quickly spread into the bloodstream from a seemingly small wound on a foot or leg. Diabetics are a higher risk for cellulitis than non-diabetics.
3. Keep skin clean and dry. Fun at the pool and beach or any activity that results in sweating can result in extra skin moisture, which in turn can lead to an overgrowth of skin fungus and potentially an athlete's foot infection. If the infection makes its way into the foot skin through cracks and fissures, cellulitis can result.
4. Control blood sugar. When blood sugar is normal, the potential for foot complications is significantly lower. In the summer, this might mean saying no to the barbeque, pie, ice cream and other warm-weather goodies that pop up at celebrations.