One of the things I do miss is going barefoot,I hate wearing things on my feet,they feel so confined,but no more barefeet for me :-( I'll keep in mind the toe wiggling and moving my ankles up and down a few times a day.I do check my feet every night.Good advise,Thanks

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Thanks for sharing this advice. It's interesting that I read an article not long ago that said sandals were good for diabetics because they allow your feet to breathe. Do you feel that sandals don't provide enough protection?

Just wondering.

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I too am going to try sandles,I ordered a pair last week and waiting for them to come in.I like to go barefoot but can't not even in the house as my dogs leave toys to step on.I ave to put the no excuse plan into effect also.Any know of some to help with the needle sticking and burning in the feet.That is one of my biggest problems.Thanks for all the great info you people put out it is a lot of help when I get time to sit down and read it.

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Hello butterfly8. That was excellent advice on the care of feet. I nwas diagnosed as type2 six years ago. I picked up atheletes foot in rest room in a public park a few years ago. Needless to say,I tried to cure it by useing over the counter sprays and powders. They didnt work. It finally set up as a fungus infection in my blood. I started going to a Dermatologist about eight years a go. He put me on special antibiotic pill. I have to have lab work done every three months. My feet didnt really didnt seem tha bad until,I became a diabetic. Iwent for a check up this morning. My finger nails have cleared. The doctor said that,It may be another year befor,My feet are cured. Whether, A person is diabectic or not, They should never walk bare foot any where unless,It in the shower. If, A person is diabetic,foot infections can create painful problems,Which left untreated can lead to amputation of the foot or legs.I never walk through my own home without wearing a pair of good house slippers. I don't walk any where outside without wearing my diabetic shoes. Even with shoes diabetic must always be looking for broken glass.nails and other objects which might cut or pierce the flesh on our feet.Since,I was diagnosed,Diabetes has changed the skin on my arms and hands. The skin has grown very thin. I try not to allow my arms or hands to rub or brush againt surfaces. As Diabetics,We need to be very careful,What goes inside our bodies(meds or food) and what happens to the outside. I meant to say,I started seeing a dermatologist eight months ago. Alas,another senior moment. Aren't those moments great lol.

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Regarding complications, I just want to remind you all that life can and does go on even if you've developed them. Please have a look at this piece I wrote:

http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/daily_living/Vi...

Best,
AmyT

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Well, I can say that I don't follow those rules and for the foreseeable future I wont either, hopefully I never will.

stem from. Keeping your blood sugar in check is the bI do check my feet daily, I don't smoke and I do keep my blood sugars in check. The rest I either don't do at all, I frequently walk barefoot for example, or I don't do all the time, like wearing tight fitting shoes when I play soccer and sandals in the summer.

I've talked with my doctor about it before. I don't have neuropathy so have full feeling in my feet and he's comfortable in me carrying on as I am. If I had decreased sensitivity in my feet then that would be a different story and those rules would become more imprtant. Most of the tips are aimed at preventing further complications from neuropathy rather than preventing neuropathy itself. Keeping blood sugar in check is the big one every diabetic should be doing.

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It is kind of funny, becuase even without knowing these are things we are supposed to do, we kind of end up doing them naturally. Unfortunately, it was the tingly toes that made me think I was diabetec, and by then it is hard to revese. I found that I wore socks (which I never did before) My barefoot days were gone because it was uncomfortable to be barefooted, specially on hot surfaces. I found that my slippers and sandles were perpetuationg athletes foot and once I quit wearing them (or wore socks) that improved greatly. Crocks really have helped me a lot. They slip on, they are anitbacterial, and they let my feet breath. They also have little nubbies that help stimulate my soles and they have good arch support. They are my favs, until I can get a good pair of diabetic shoes.
I am also lucky, that my hubby gives me foot massages at least 1-2 times a week and he gives my tootsies a good look over above what I keep my eyes on.
Why is it that our skin becomes so thin? I have noticed that I (miss oily skin break out queen) am having issues with dry skin now. I thought it was age. How is that part of diabetes (of course, what is NOT part of our disease?)

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Good stuff Butterfly and great tips. All that said, each of us must do what works for us.

I do still go barefoot in the house, but not in the dark! :=)I wear fisherman style sandals that enclose my heel and toes partly. In our Florida climate, I would have a hard time giving up my sandals.
However, flip flops are dangerous, because they tend to rub and irritate the skin between the toes and there is no support or protection from stubbing toes or even having a puppy or kitten scratch your foot.

Personally, I find that shoes with vinyl or other man made materials make my feet sweat so I try to buy leather shoes. Wearing cotton socks is great because the cotton wicks away moisture which is important in preventing skin breakdown.

I guess I didn't know thin skin was associated with diabetes, I thought my was thin 'cause I'm so old! :=D

Thanks for bringing this important information. Even those of us who have had type 2 for some time have to be reminded.

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Hello Butterfly,
Thank you for the one up! I am so sorry about your foot. I will keep you in prayer.
Leigh

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Everyone is right we have to be careful of our feet. My moto is if the shoe does not feel right I don't wear it. If anyone knows how to tell airport security about diabetic people let me know. They make you take your shoes off even if they are sandles. I also believe we should not have to walk barefoot on an airport floor.

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It is very important to do all these things because if you don't take care of your feet who else will.

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Thank you for the info...I will tell my son..Take care!

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I find this topic to be an interesting one. I am always concerned about the complications that we all face without maintaining proper control.

As almost all of you who have posted comments here know, I am very heavy into Tae Kwon Do, which involves kicking targets, people, and even breaking boards and bricks with my bare feet. i often end my practices with having to deal with open wounds on my feet. However, I take immediate action to control any chance of infection and always check my feet even when not practicing my sport.

My brother on the other hand, (who also is a Type 2 Diabetic), Simply split his big toe open when he bumped a bedpost in his room. He got an infection almost immediately, and was hospitalized with it for 12 days. (I was only in for only 5 with open heart surgery back in 2003) He ended up having his big toe amputated and had the real chance of losing his whole foot.

So yes, you do need to be aware of the things that can happen to us. Be dilligent in your efforts to control and observe symptoms of any irregularities. But your life should not stop because of this disease either. I suppose if there comes a time when I will have to give up my Tae Kwon Do due to issues with my feet, I probably will. But until then, I am going to enjoy every moment of my life.

I wish you all the very best, and always keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
John

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Hello Everybody,

First I wanted to thank everyone for all of the replys. Lots of great info. It means alot to see that there are others out there that understand the pain, & everyday struggles that I go through. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in this big universe. :)

2 1/2 yrs ago I was suffering w/ my legs (from the knees down) & my feet swelling so bad that I couldn't wear shoes, socks, some days couldn't even walk. What I couldn't understand was why my feet & sometimes legs would go numb for days. Pretty scarey stuff there.

It wasn't until Jul 07 that I found out I was Type II. Once my BS was better controled my swelling has gone away. The Doc told me the pain in my legs & feet & the numbness was because of neurorphay (?spelling) & arthris in both feet & knees.

Between all that & my fibro it seems like walking across the room is a billion miles away.

I hated that I now had to change my whole life around & that of my family & friends - Almost everyone said... Oh your diabetic - no problems just take a shot of inslin. (lol) some folks just have no clue. And we all tend to ignore the little things until something happens.

I now wear shoes 24/7 - even when I get up to go to the bathroom at nite. Using lotion for my feet, & another "big" change for me was when I got done w/ my shower or bath.. as you dry off... before getting all the way out or dry your feet off.. rinse your feet off again w/ just plain water. I rinse one, dry it, step out of the tub or sit on the side & then rinse the other one, dry & then I'm good to go. This step has help me so so much w/ the dryness & cracking of my feet by 75% w/ in the first 3-4 days.

I wear my "crocs" (ya gotta lovem) most of the time. But I do wear sneakers or my special diabetic shoes. I was able to get my diabetic shoes free.

For anyone w/ bad feet - have your doctor "check" them & docuement that your feet have "problems" do to your diabetes. The doctor can write you a prescription for "diabetic" or special shoes. The doc can also give or get you info about where you can go to get this done (orthopedic specialist or prothstetic specialists) in your area. For anyone who is on Medicare - they allow 1 pair of these shoes "FREE" a year.

It's worth checking into it. Best of Wishes to everyone. Have a great week, take care of yourselfs... and don't forget to check your feet.

Always,
Babs

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Thanks for that testimony...as a seemingly progressing neuropathy victim I understand...I'm hoping to ward off the ulcers by staying in control of the sugar

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I was having problems with my big toe swelling on my right foot and I already knew I have neuropathy so My doctor sent me to a podiatrist. come to find out I had broken my big toe. Do not know how or anything. So it just heals on its own, so I wear my diabetic crocs in a size bigger and at home I use the memory foam slippers. But everyday we must check our feet.

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Diabetics need to be wary of getting pedicures at local salons. It is hard to know just how sanitary the conditions are, and you might get a puncture or have toenails clipped oddly or too short, etc. This can cause real problems for us, as you all know. We can't be too careful with our feet.

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this was all good and very helpful information. i do appreciate it so much.

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thank you this willcertianly help me to take better care for myself.

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Great advice, Butterfly_8. Thanks for sending it in. Good luck.

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