Please let one of our RN's do your foot care safely - Your feet are so important to overall health.

• Inspect Your Feet Daily - Notify a health care provider if you notice a growth, change of sensation, swelling, pain, unusual nail formation, skin or nail discoloration, or a sore that is not healing.
• Wash, Rinse, & Dry Your Feet - especially between your toes - Daily. Moisturize your skin to keep that first line of defense strong & healthy! Creams and Lotions are best - Apply Daily! Avoid powders & oils that make floors slippery and hard to clean.
• Protect Your Feet - Never Never go bare foot or stocking foot - even at night to the bathroom! Foot infections take a long time to heal & for some people they never do. Germs are more drug resistant than ever today!
• Inspect your shoes in & out frequently for uneven wear. You may just need new shoes for a sore hip. Avoid all callus & corn remover pads with acids in them and never wear pads that encircle the toes!
• Buy shoes in the late afternoon. Have each foot re-measured every time - foot structures are always changing! Choose shoes well fitting shoes with "extra-depth" toe boxes to prevent crowding the toes. Buy heel inserts to stabilize heel and whole foot in the shoe if needed.
• Alternate your shoes daily to reduce moisture buildup. Check & shake your shoes out before applying. Seams, Wrinkles, Pressure spots cause ulcers in ONE HOUR in a foot with poor circulation or innervation! So check your feet frequently (every 1/2 hour) after getting new shoes!
• Always wear socks in your shoes. Seamless, Stretchy, Diabetic socks are the best. Change them every day. Before putting on shoes make sure there are no wrinkles in you socks that cause pressure sores.
• File your toenails and calluses with wet black files and rinse them frequently. File carefully only to the contour of your toe tip. Nothing else sharp near your precious feet - bathroom surgery is dangerous! Also never use pumice stones or peel your nails or calluses off!
• Please get second opinions about any surgical procedure recommended for your foot problem. Many are out-dated, ineffective, or cause side-effects that may not make the trauma just not worth it!

Important Foot Care Resources

• "FootSmart" Catalog
  www.FootSmart.com (800) 870-7149
  (for shoes, socks, supports, pads, long shoe horns, pads, vibrators, exercisers; please avoid sharp implements, acid heating pads, circular toe pads, and foot basins*)
  *The ADA DOES NOT recommend elderly or diabetic self foot soaking due to risk of burns, slips, & falls.
• Medicare Coverage of Shoes for Diabetics
  www.shoeamerica.net/html/shoe_bill.html (800) 878-7463
• Best Foot Lotions
  Whatever goes on easy!! Keep at bedside & TVside tables! Apply daily! (Generally just make sure there are no alcohols in first 4 ingredients) (Cetaphil is good for very sensitive skin find OTC or at www.DermStore.com) For especially dry feet/skin have NP or MD check first for more serious conditions!
• Foot Care for Veterans
  Check your local VA Dermatology Clinic; in Ann Arbor (734) 769-7100 Ext. 756
• Wide Shoes
  www.ShoeExpress.com (800) 874-0469
• National Odd Shoe Exchange
  www.angelfire.com/in2/oddshoes/ (480) 892-3484
• "Numb Toes & Aching Soles: Coping with Peripheral Neuropathy"
  (PN symptoms = foot numbness, pain, tingles, burning, &/or heaviness)
  (888) 633-9898 & from www.Amazon.com (Copy also @ the Main AA Library)
• Support Plus Catalog http://supportplus.com / 1-877-808-0024
  (for shoes, socks, supports, bedrails, bath & toilet seats, mobility devices, exercise and dressing aides, magnifying glasses ect.)