Diabetes and pedicures: Do they go together?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-and-pedicures/MY00537
- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
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Living with diabetes blog
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Jan. 29, 2009
Diabetes and pedicures: Do they go together?
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Whether you feel you have nice feet or not, your feet are an important part of your life. My grandmother used to tell me that my feet were my foundation. As you know, if the foundation cracks or collapses the whole building is in trouble.
I have calloused feet and decided recently it would be nice to try having a pedicure. I had never had one before and now I can say I have had three. With the first pedicure my feet looked great and I enjoyed the experience.
With the second, the manicurist cut the skin on the side of my big toe and it became infected. Being vain and enjoying the looks of having pretty coral painted toenails when I wear my sandals, I tried another pedicure and the manicurist clipped my skin again and drew blood.
If you have diabetes, this is not a good thing. What's a person to do?
At my previous employment as a diabetes educator, we instructed our patients to never get a pedicure. Realistically, I don't know how many people follow this advice.
When you have diabetes, any injury to your feet is a major concern. An injury is an open invitation for an infection. An infection can lead to higher blood sugars and higher blood sugars can interfere with the healing process, which can lead to ulcers and potential amputation. This means you need to take good care of your feet and avoid injury.
Here are some recommendations for individuals who decide to go ahead and have a pedicure. This was taken from an article about pedicures in the "Diabetes Forecast" October 2008 issue.
- Use good judgment. Be picky about the salon. Check out several salons and look into sanitation practices and how they clean their tools. At one local salon in our area, you buy your own tools and they are kept in a box with your name.
- Inspect the foot tub. Does it get cleaned between clients?
- Inspect the tools. Stainless steel instruments are more sanitary than wooden sticks.
- Don't be afraid to give the nail technician instructions. Let them know you have diabetes. Water temperature of 90-95 degrees should be safe, avoid razors, no lotion between the toes, and be gentle.
- If you shave your legs, stop 2 days before the appointment to decrease your chances of bacteria entering nicks or cuts.
Your thoughts? Is it worth the risk?
- Nancy
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