Diabetes Hub: Guide to Managing Diabetes

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Foot and Dental Care

Foot complications

Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to foot
complications

Nerve damage can make your foot feel numb and change its shape, increasing your risk of getting calluses and ulcers.

Foot complications caused by diabetes can make wounds heal poorly

Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to amputation

Extremely poor blood circulation (vasculopathy) can cause wounds to heal poorly; an amputation may be required to save your life.

Foot care practices

Foot Care妥善的足部护理 Penjagaan Kaki Yang Betul முறையான பாதப் பராமரிப்பு

Good foot care practices

Monitor feet every day
Watch out for:
•Blister, wounds, corn, callus, or toenail abnormality
•Redness, swelling, bruise, or increase warmth

Maintaining good foot care and hygiene help prevent complications

Maintain good foot care and hygiene
•Clean feet daily with mild soap and water
•Use a pumice stone or foot file to gently remove hard skin
•Avoid cutting nails too short; cut them straight across and file corners

Moisturising your foot regularly helps prevent complications

Moisturise regularly
•Avoid using harsh soap
•Apply moisturiser daily but not between each toe
•Avoid scrathing skin as it may lead wound or bleeding

Wearing well-fitting and covered footwear helps prevent complications

Wear well-fitting and covered footwear
•Wear well-fitting covered shoes with socks
•Home sandals are recommended
•Check and remove any stones or sharp object inside shoes before wearing them

Applying simple first aid for small wounds helps prevent complications

Apply simple first aid for small wounds
•Clean small wounds with saline before applying antiseptic and covering with a plaster
•Home sandals are recommended
•Seek medical help if there is no improvement after two days or if there is signs of inspection

Seeking medical help if your wound is not healing well or worsens helps prevent complications

Seek medical help if wound is not healing well or worsens
•If signs of infection are present, such as redness, swelling, increased pain, pus, fever, or the wound start to smell, seek medical help as soon as possible

Seek immediate medical attention if your foot is cold, pale, discoloured, numb, painful or unable to move

Where to go for further help

Go to your doctor for advice, and if needed you can get a referal to a podiatrist for further management
Seek early review by a podiatrist if your foot feels numb (e.g you are unable to feel your footwear properly)

Footwear

Good footwear is important

Ideal features of supportive footwear

Remember to

Choose socks with tops that are not too tight
Wear a pair of cotton socks or stockings with your shoes at all times
Wear well-fitted covered shoes
Check and remove any stones or sharp object inside your shoes before wearing them
Use suitable footwear for different activities (e.g exercise with sports shoes, do daily shopping with sandals or sports shoes, and use bedroom slippers with cushioning at home

Oral care

Good Dental Practices良好的牙齿护理习惯 Amalan Pergigian Baik சிறந்த பல் சார்ந்த நடைமுறைகள்

Keep your mouth healthy

Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day (in the morning and before sleeping) for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to keep your mouth healthy and help manage diabetes

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush; change every 3 months or when bristles spread out

If you wear dentures, clean them after every meal to keep your mouth healthy and help manage diabetes

If you wear dentures, clean them after every meal; remove, clean and soak dentures in water before sleeping

Clean in between your teeth with floss to keep your mouth healthy and help manage diabetes

Clean in between your teeth with a floss or interdental brush at least once a day

Tilting your brush at an angle while brushing is a way to keep your mouth healthy and help manage diabetes

Tilt the brush at an angle to your gum line, moving it in small circular motions across all front, back and chewing surfaces of your teeth, not forgetting the back molars

Get your teeth checked every 6 months to 1 year to keep your mouth healthy and help manage diabetes

Visit a dentist every 6 months to 1 year to have your teeth checked; inform the dentist that you have diabetes, how your blood sugar control is and what medication you are taking