Stumble It!
Wayback Wednesday: Dry Between Your Toes
You cannot be too careful with your feet. I was reminded of this wisdom big time last week, when I heard about an acquaintance who’s been diagnosed with melanoma and had to have two toes removed. She’s very fair, and apparently never put sunscreen on her feet. Have I ever done that? Not sure. Do not neglect your feet, my Friends!
On that note, a look back at post from early 2006 — probably the last time I thought seriously about foot health. Oy.
Dry Between Your Toes
There are certain aspects of diabetes care that I’ve just plain stonewalled. Foot care is No. 1 on that list. What could it matter to a girl who spent her formative years running around barefoot on the sizzling asphalt of LA that some people with diabetes get foot problems? Me, who’s “complications clock” just started running less than 3 yrs. ago?
But lately I discovered something disgusting. Diabetes makes your feet susceptible to everything. My endo found a bit of athlete’s foot or related fungus between my toes, and lectured me for the umpteenth time on “drying between your toes.” Well I do! Or I did… Or OK, maybe not so carefully. But I literally have walked barefoot all over this state and have never, ever, had any problem with my feet until now. Yucchh!
Check out the "Tiny Toe Towel"
It was nothing that 10 days of Lotrimin cream couldn’t cure, mind you, but then I got some blisters from my awesome new New Age loafers that wouldn’t go away. I’ve had to table the shoes, but the blisters still aren’t healed. Crap. This foot thing is for real.
I do not have neuropathy! I can still feel every crumb in my socks. So why are my feet suddenly so darn sensitive? I guess as a commenter here recently noted, the longer you have diabetes, the more the effects set in.
My endo also told me never to wear sandals. Wha? Obviously, he’s never seen these, or these.
As Scott J noted on his blog recently, we’ve just got to make the effort to take good care of our feet, and maybe even ask for an exam if it’s not forthcoming.
Explore posts in the same categories: Diabetes Essentials
Ha!! I searched the world over to buy sling back close toed shoes…trying to be good but frankly these shoes are ugly. I want my open toed sandals back. Sigh….
Posted by: Laura | September 9th, 2009 at 6:17 amI think all the hysteria about diabetic feet is a holder from the pre-tight-control era. I wear sandals and go barefoot all the time in my house and yard. If my endo tried to tell me I shouldn’t, I would be outraged, and probably switch doctors. I would find that remark highly inappropriate.
If you’re in tight control, why worry about your feet any more than a normal non-diabetic person would worry?
Posted by: Lauren K | September 9th, 2009 at 11:53 amMy doc hasn’t looked at my feet in a couple years and I think I had to ask him to do so the last time. He said there isn’t much to be concerned with at my age (31) even though I’ve been diabetic for about 19yrs. I seem to still have great feeling and haven’t had any issues, but I do wish she’d check annually.
The the comment above me (Lauren) – even in context of what I’ve just said, it sounds like you’re not really aware of what’s at stake – at least from your tone, that is. Changing doctors because they suggest that a diabetic protect her feet… what else would you expect a doctor to do, recommend that you put your feet at extra risk since you have good control?
Anyway, I’ve got a couple of black toenails from a recent backpacking trip and I’m finally starting to worry about the rate at which they’re growing out. I have good control and am pretty fit, but permanent damage to my feet would be pretty high on my list of awful things.
Posted by: pking | September 9th, 2009 at 9:18 pmAmy –
Posted by: k2 | September 10th, 2009 at 2:45 pm“Feet don’t fail me now!” is absolutely a Diabetes war cry! Hang in there! You can still wear pretty shoes, just not “Drag Queen” pretty shoes- which I’m so the fan of by the way.
I have more “structural” issues with my feet than Diabetes related issues. But D certainly maks those issues more “interesting.”
I find that pretty wedges work great,and am a HUGE fan of custom orthotics! Just make sure the shoes you wear with them are deep enough for the orthotics!
Kelly K
If you want to treat your feet, try a Reflexology Massage. I go once a month and have been doing it for 2 years now. It feels so good and is very relaxing. The massage therapist can also tell you if there is anything unusual or different since the last time. You can also ask the therapist if they would use a monofilament to test feeling and sensation in the feet. For a half hour massage I pay $30.00. The Podiatrist looks for 15 minutes and charges your insurance $100.00 if not more.
Posted by: Florian | September 10th, 2009 at 4:27 pmI don’t like doctors speaking to me as if I am an out-of-control diabetic. That’s what I find offensive, and I would switch physicians if one of them gave me advice that was not applicable to me and my situation. Diabetics are not all on track for massive horrific vascular complications. I’ll keep my A1c under 6 and continue to wear flip flops.
I also don’t like personal advice from physicians. They are there to answer my questions about my health based on evidence-based medicine, not give me lifestyle advice. I’ll listen to their medical recommendations, provided they are based on solid science, but it’s my life and I make the decisions.
Posted by: Lauren K | September 10th, 2009 at 8:58 pmI was really shocked when I read that the girl had to have her toes removed!
Posted by: Symposier | September 12th, 2009 at 3:39 pmSince I was very ypung my mother told me to dry between my toes because not doing it could cause fungus or something worse and I am not a diabetic but since some diabetics suffer other complications with their skin this measure is really important. At Symposier site there is more information for phsycians on this disease and other medical topics such as melanoma that is also mentioned in this article.
I’ve had this numbness and stabbing sharp pain in one of my toes. Could that be neuropathy? My doctor says it could be so we did an A1C test just a few days ago. Still waiting results. Once I was diagnosed with diabetes and was on meds, then my levels were dropping too low. My doctor took me off of meds and told me to randomly check glucose levels. At this point…..just waiting results.
Posted by: nowazetired | September 13th, 2009 at 5:51 amFrom my personal experience, if someone has an A1c in the normal range (mine is under 5%) then they could probably wear any kind of shoe. I wear 4 inch stilletos every day. (Or at least I did a year ago before I gave birth to twin babies who keep me homebound and in flip flops
Posted by: Sysy Morales | September 19th, 2009 at 8:51 pm