Summer may evoke images of walking barefoot in sand or grass. However, walking barefoot, and even wearing sandals, can be dangerous for diabetics. The reason is that both leave feet exposed and can make you vulnerable to cuts. Additionally, they raise the risk of foot issues, which are already a concern for diabetics. Read on for diabetes foot problems, prevention, and management. I also suggest alternatives to wearing flip-flops.

How Diabetes Causes Foot Problems

Diabetes can suppress your immune system, reduce blood flow, and prolonged high blood sugar can damage foot nerves and blood vessels. All of this can cause foot problems. Nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, can cause a loss of sensation in your feet. For this reason, you can’t feel a cut, blister, or sore. As a result, you can catch an infection.

How to Prevent Foot Problems

The best remedy will always be prevention by managing your blood sugar levels. Other things you can do:

• Get yearly foot exams
• Check your feet every day. If you have difficulty checking them, have someone else check them for you. Look for cuts, open wounds, blisters, ingrown toenails, and ulcers.
• Treat cuts immediately
• Practice good foot hygiene and wash your feet every day
• Trim toenails straight across to prevent ingrown nails. See a podiatrist to trim your toenails if it’s too difficult for you. You can also ask them to remove corns and calluses.
• Protect your feet from heat and cold
• Increase foot circulation by elevating your feet, doing ankle pumps, and walking
• Keep blood pressure and cholesterol within a healthy range
• Don’t smoke, which reduces blood flow
• Don’t soak your feet, which will dry your skin
• Wear supportive shoes
• Wear diabetic socks, which are loose-fitting and non-binding

When to See a Doctor:

• You have a wound, blister, sore, or ulcer
• You have a cut that won’t heal
• You have pain or tingling
• You have a loss of feeling in your legs
• The skin on your leg is red and warm

Natural Remedies for Fungus

Not only is toenail fungus unsightly, but it is also hard to get rid of. I’ve had laser treatments, but they always come back. One natural remedy that has worked for me is applying Vicks Vapor Rub to my toenails daily with a Q-tip. It took several weeks, but the toenails cleared up. This is due to Vicks’ antifungal properties.

Other home remedies include applying tea tree oil or oregano oil, but it may take months before you notice a change. While Listerine mouthwash and vinegar may also be helpful, using them involves soaking the feet in water that has been diluted with them, which is not advised for diabetics because it might dry up the skin. And dry skin is more vulnerable to cracking, which can make it easy for bacteria to enter the broken skin.

Another way to prevent fungus is to not apply moisturizer between your toes. The extra moisture can lead to fungus. Instead, use a powder between your toes.

Additionally, fungus loves to feed on sugar, which is another reason to manage blood sugar levels.

Can Diabetics Wear Sandals?

I loved being barefoot and wearing sandals, but now I have to take caution as a diabetic. Walking on hot sand can burn your feet. And sand may also hide rocks or broken glass. As for wearing most sandals, it’s easy for gravel and small stones to get inside them. A small pebble inside your sandals can cause gigantic problems to your feet.

And don’t get me started on flip-flops. They are horrible because they are flimsy, making it easy to trip or stub your toes. Also, they can lead to plantar fasciitis, hammertoe, and tendonitis. Sandals also leave heels exposed to the elements, causing heels to dry and crack.

So, what’s a better option? Consider sandals that are more shoe-like and other types of shoes. I love closed-toe sports sandals, also called athletic sandals. It combines the comfort of both a sandal and gym shoes. Or wear shoes like Crocs which cover your feet, but allow air in. Gym shoes with mesh fabric also let air in.

Like sports sandals, fisherman sandals have slits that allow air through. They get their name because the open design allows water to go through. Also like sports sandals, they protect the toes while letting air in. I like the ones with the closed back because they also protect heels.

Also, don’t forget to wear aqua shoes in the water and on the beach.

Pedicures

If you really want to wear sandals pick shoes with thick soles and good support, and check your feet after wearing them. If you want to show off your toes and get a pedicure, you can safely get a pedicure with some precautions. Definitely let the pedicurist know you have diabetes.

Additionally, you can take the following actions to reduce your risk of infection:

Conclusion

I know it’s hard not to wear flip-flops in the summer, but most sandals expose our feet to the risk of cut skin which may lead to infection. However, other types of shoes allow the breeze to hit your toes while keeping them safe. Options are mules, Crocs, sports sandals, and fisherman sandals. And take care of those toes by doing daily inspections, getting yearly foot exams, and visiting a podiatrist.

Quote

“Trying to manage diabetes is hard because if you don’t, there are consequences you’ll have to deal with later in life” – Bryan Adams

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Disclaimer

Please remember this is not medical advice or intended to replace the advice of your doctor. This is my experience with the natural supplements that have helped me manage my diabetes.  They are not intended to cure any disease. Please do not self-diagnose. Always check with your healthcare provider before trying new treatments.

Also, natural does not mean safe. Many natural remedies have side effects and can interact with medication and supplements. It should be noted that the FDA does not regulate dietary supplements but treats them like foods and not medication. Unlike drug manufacturers, supplement makers do not have to show their products are safe or effective.

I ask you to please keep an open mind; be a diabetic detective and do your own research; work with your healthcare team; see what works best for you, and monitor your blood sugars.