Diabetic Foot Care

Looking for a doctor to help with your diabetic foot care foot condition in or around San Francisco, the Bay Area, or Sacramento? Novato Foot and Ankle Center can diagnose and treat your diabetic foot care condition.

Diabetes is a systemic condition that affects the whole body. The feet are commonly affected due to diabetes and it is important to maintain your feet closely to prevent complications. Diabetes can lead to nerve damage which causes progressive loss of sensation to the feet. This significantly increases the risk of blisters and open sores which can lead to infection. The best way to prevent diabetes related complications is to maintain tight control of your blood sugars on a daily basis.

Important guidelines to maintain the health of your feet:

• Inspect your feet every day. Look for blisters, open sores, calluses or bleeding. Check between your toes to make sure they are clean and dry. If you have difficulty bending over to inspect the bottoms of the feet, it may be helpful to use a handheld mirror for inspection. Call your podiatric surgeon immediately if you notice any of the above changes to your feet.
• Wear clean socks and change regularly as needed.
• Do NOT walk barefoot at any time. Even at home, wear diabetic shoes or thick soled slippers. Inspect your shoes before placing your feet in shoes to ensure there are no pebbles or small foreign bodies.
• Don’t smoke. Nicotine decreases blood flow within the small blood vessels and increases risk of complications.
• Moisturize your feet daily but do not apply any creams or ointments between your toes. Diabetes can cause dry skin which increases risk of fissures or small cuts in the foot.
• Schedule regular appointments with your primary care physician and foot and ankle specialist for close monitoring.

Make an Appointment Meet Our Physicians