About P.A.D.: Foot Care and P.A.D.: Tips

What other steps should I take to protect my feet?

Washing and checking your feet each day is the first part of your foot care plan. Follow these steps as well to protect your feet from serious problems.

• Wear shoes and socks at all times. Never walk around in bare feet—even indoors. Choose socks that will not cause sores on your feet. They should be seamless socks or those with flat or soft seams. Wear comfortable shoes that fit well and protect your feet. Before you put on your shoes, feel inside them to make sure the lining is smooth and that there are no pebbles or rough edges. If you have diabetes, keep in mind that you may not be able to count on the nerves in your feet to feel something wrong with your shoes or socks.
  
• Choose shoes that will keep your feet safe. When you buy new shoes, have a shoe expert make sure the size is right for your feet. You may not be able to feel a short or narrow shoe. Because your feet often get wider as you get older, you may need to change shoe sizes over time. When you have new shoes, wear them for only a few hours a day at first, and then change into other shoes for the rest of the day. This will help you to avoid getting blisters or sores from new shoes.
  
  If your health care team suggests wearing special inserts in your shoes, make sure there is enough room in the toe box of the shoes you wear for the insert. If not, you will need to buy shoes that have a deeper and wider toe box. If you already have foot problems such as nerve damage, Medicare or your private insurance may pay part of the cost for special shoes or inserts. Ask your health care team whether you can apply for these benefits.
  
• Protect your feet from hot and cold. Wear socks at night if your feet get cold. Always wear shoes at the beach, the pool, or on hot pavement. If you have diabetes, do not test bath water with your feet; use your arm or hand to be sure the water is not too hot.
  
• Keep the blood flowing to your feet. Put your feet up when sitting and do not cross your legs for long periods of time. If you have pain, dangle or wiggle your feet and toes to increase blood flow and decrease pain. If you smoke or use any type of tobacco product, ask your health care team for help in quitting. Nicotine reduces blood flow to your feet.
  
• Be active every day. Ask your health care team to help you plan a daily activity program that is right for you. Walking, dancing, swimming, and bicycling are good forms of exercise that are easy on the feet. Avoid activities that are hard on the feet, such as running and jumping. Always include a short warm-up and cool-down period. Wear athletic shoes that fit well and that provide good support.

What foot exams should I have to make sure my feet are healthy?

At each office visit, your health care provider should look at your feet. Once you are in the exam room, take off your shoes and socks every time so that you are ready to have your feet checked.

If you have diabetes, you should have a complete foot exam at least once a year—more often if you already have foot problems. A complete foot exam should include a check of the skin on your feet, your foot muscles and bones, how well you can walk, your blood circulation and whether you have any numbness in your feet.