Taking excellent care of your feet is crucial. Diabetes Forecast says you can get a pedicure at a nail salon as long as you don't have an infection cut ulcer or neuropathy — but urges you to use caution and good judgment. The most important thing they advise is to make sure the salon you choose is extremely clean.
Diabetes can make pedicures dangerous: Reduced circulation can make injuries and infections more likely, and take longer to heal. Peripheral neuropathy can reduce feeling in your feet, making you unable to tell if the technician is hurting you, or if a hot footbath is scalding you.
Skip any services that can injure the skin. Never allow the technician to cut your cuticles or use any sharp instruments on your skin or under your toenails.
When having a manicure or pedicure you should always inform the therapist you have diabetes as then they know to be more careful when filing and pushing the cuticles back. You definitely would not cut the cuticles with the cuticle nippers of someone who had diabetes.
It is advisable to have a podiatrist regularly perform the toenail care for diabetics since a small cut from trimming their own nails could quickly escalate into a larger issue. You can help minimize further issues by having a podiatrist regularly perform your nail care.
Avoid soaking your feet, as this can lead to dry skin. Dry your feet gently, especially between the toes. Moisturize your feet and ankles with lotion or petroleum jelly. Do not put oils or creams between your toes — the extra moisture can lead to infection.
People with diabetes can easily get wounds on their feet. Improper cutting or care of toenails and feet is the leading cause that could lead to toe finger and foot amputation.
Myth: People with diabetes can't cut their own toenails
Not true: the general advice on toenail cutting applies to everyone. If you have diabetes you should keep your nails healthy by cutting them to the shape of the end of your toes.
Cut toenails after bathing, when they are soft. Trim them straight across, then smooth with a nail file. Avoid cutting into the corners of toes. Don't let the corners of your toenails grow into the skin.
Diabetics need to make sure that their nail salon is clean and sterile. Make sure your nail therapist is aware of your condition, and that diabetics are prone to have infections. Ask about the sanitation process of the tools used for nail treatment.
Do not eat white bread, chips, and pastries, which quickly increase blood sugar. Avoid processed foods and meats as they will be rich in salt and oil. Restrict fried and fatty foods. Do not take full fat dairy products.
Although it requires taking some additional precautions, there's no need to be afraid to see diabetic clients. Says Dr. Philis-Tsimikas, “As long as they have sensation and feel comfortable, they should be fine with some extra care.”
See your General Practitioner right away. Puncture wounds are a serious matter, especially when you have diabetes. Nails and other sharp objects do not have to be rusty to cause tetanus or to cause an infection in your foot.
Summary. People with diabetes are vulnerable to infections in and around the nails, including Gram-negative bacteria or fungi. Neuropathy and glycaemia increase the risk, as does damage to the nail or adjacent skin, for example by distorted or sharp-edged nails. It is vital to have good nail care in both hands and feet ...
Diabetics often have reduced blood flow to their feet, which may cause thicker toenails or numbness.
They can happen over time when high blood sugar damages the nerves and blood vessels in the feet. The nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, can cause numbness, tingling, pain, or a loss of feeling in your feet. If you can't feel pain, you may not know when you have a cut, blister, or ulcer (open sore) on your foot.
Wear socks or stockings with shoes. Wear socks without seams. Avoid tight-fitting socks and garters. Wear socks in bed if your feet are cold at night.
Tingling, burning, or pain in your feet. Loss of sense of touch or ability to feel heat or cold very well. A change in the shape of your feet over time. Loss of hair on your toes, feet, and lower legs.
An ulcer that won't heal causes severe damage to tissues and bone. It may require surgical removal (amputation) of a toe, a foot or part of a leg. Some people with diabetes are at higher risk than others.
Walking without foot protection can be especially dangerous for those with diabetes and suffer from peripheral neuropathy. Not wearing shoes puts you at risk for injuries to the bottoms of your feet that you may not feel due to the loss of sensation from nerve damage.
Nail Health & Diabetes
In some people with diabetes, the nails take on a yellowish hue and become brittle. This is often associated with the breakdown of sugar and its effect on the collagen in nails. In certain cases, this yellowing of nails can be a sign of a nail infection.
Taking excellent care of your feet is crucial. Diabetes Forecast says you can get a pedicure at a nail salon as long as you don't have an infection cut ulcer or neuropathy — but urges you to use caution and good judgment. The most important thing they advise is to make sure the salon you choose is extremely clean.