- People with diabetes should inspect their feet daily.
- It is OK to go barefoot if you have diabetes.
- Toenails should always be cut straight across.
- It is fine to remove calluses, corns and warts by yourself.
- You should be measured and fitted properly each time you buy a new pair of shoes.
- All people with diabetes will have a lower extremity amputation.
- Only people who use insulin suffer from foot complications related to diabetes.
- Controlling your blood sugar level will decrease your chance of foot complications.
1. True. It is important to inspect your feet daily. Numbness can develop, and if feet are not inspected daily, minor injuries that could lead to serious problems could go undetected. Early diagnosis greatly improves the effectiveness of treatment.
2. False. People who have diabetes should never go barefoot. Doing so increases the possibility of sustaining minor injuries, which could lead to infection and possibly amputation.
3. True. The corners of the toenails should be visible after trimming.
4. False. The lack of sensation in the feet, poor vision and the wrong tools are among the reasons you should not remove calluses, corns and warts by yourself. Only a podiatrist should perform such removals.
5. True. Foot size can change over a lifetime, and wearing shoes that are too small is bad for your feet. To avoid buying shoes that are the wrong size, go shoe shopping in the afternoon, when your feet are at their largest.
6. False. Thirty-two percent of people with diabetes have amputations. With proper foot care and preventative examinations, you can greatly lower the risk of amputation.
7. False. All people with diabetes can suffer foot complications related to diabetes.
8. True. The 10-year Diabetes Control and Complications Trial studying people with diabetes demonstrated that proper management of blood glucose levels decreases the risk of foot complications. Increased blood glucose levels lead to higher risk of infections and other complications.
