Which statements describe daily foot care practices for people with diabetes?

Which statements describe daily foot care practices for people with diabetes?

• A. Cleanses and inspects feet daily, wears properly fitting shoes, avoids walking barefoot, trims toenails straight across, reports nonhealing breaks in the skin, and applies lotion except between toes.
• B. Soaks feet daily, wears tight shoes, walks barefoot, trims nails at the corners.
• C. Wears sandals at all times, neglects breaks in the skin.
• D. Applies lotion to the entire foot including between toes.

Answer: (A)

Regular daily foot care for people with diabetes centers on preventing injury and infection by keeping feet clean, dry, and protected, while catching problems early. The best practices include cleansing and inspecting the feet every day, wearing properly fitting shoes, avoiding walking barefoot, trimming toenails straight across to prevent ingrown nails, reporting any nonhealing breaks in the skin promptly, and applying lotion to keep the skin moisturized but not between the toes. Cleansing and inspecting daily helps you spot tiny cracks or sores before they worsen. Proper footwear reduces pressure and friction that can cause blisters or ulcers. Avoiding barefoot walking protects the feet from hidden injuries. Trimming nails straight across prevents ingrown nails that can harbor infection. Promptly reporting nonhealing wounds ensures timely treatment to prevent progression. Moisturizing the skin prevents cracking, but lotion between the toes should be avoided to reduce moisture buildup and fungal risk. The other options describe practices that increase risk or fail to protect the feet, such as soaking feet (which can macerate skin), wearing tight shoes or walking barefoot, trimming nails at the corners, neglecting breaks in the skin, or applying lotion over the entire foot including between the toes (the latter can trap moisture and promote infection).

Regular daily foot care for people with diabetes centers on preventing injury and infection by keeping feet clean, dry, and protected, while catching problems early. The best practices include cleansing and inspecting the feet every day, wearing properly fitting shoes, avoiding walking barefoot, trimming toenails straight across to prevent ingrown nails, reporting any nonhealing breaks in the skin promptly, and applying lotion to keep the skin moisturized but not between the toes. Cleansing and inspecting daily helps you spot tiny cracks or sores before they worsen. Proper footwear reduces pressure and friction that can cause blisters or ulcers. Avoiding barefoot walking protects the feet from hidden injuries. Trimming nails straight across prevents ingrown nails that can harbor infection. Promptly reporting nonhealing wounds ensures timely treatment to prevent progression. Moisturizing the skin prevents cracking, but lotion between the toes should be avoided to reduce moisture buildup and fungal risk.

The other options describe practices that increase risk or fail to protect the feet, such as soaking feet (which can macerate skin), wearing tight shoes or walking barefoot, trimming nails at the corners, neglecting breaks in the skin, or applying lotion over the entire foot including between the toes (the latter can trap moisture and promote infection).