If you have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, it’s important for you to take good care of your feet to avoid the risk of developing sores and infections, in the worst scenario, lead to leg amputations.

It happened to my mother-in-law more than 15 years ago. Due to the family members’ lacking in diabetes foot care knowledge and ignoring the importance of avoiding foot wounds and injuries, my mother-in-law’s foot suffered from bacterial infection and had to have it amputated.

So, reduce your risk of bacterial infection or leg amputation by implementing these 7 simple Type II Diabetes foot care tips

1. Inspect Your Feet Daily. Check your feet daily or have a family member help you check for sores, cuts, bruises, changes to the toenails and other conditions, especially if you have low sensitivity or no feeling in your feet.

Sores, cuts and grazes could go unnoticed and you could develop problems leading to amputations.

Pain, redness or swelling around the toenails could mean an ingrown toenail, the leading cause of amputations in diabetics.

2. Wear Socks and Shoes. As a diabetic, it’s important not to go around barefoot, even indoors. Treading on something or stubbing your toes and cutting yourself brings the risk for infections and amputations easily as the healing process for a diabetic is slow.

3. Watch Out If You Have Corns or Calluses. Consult your chiropodist or podiatrist for the best care of corns, calluses, in-grown toe nails and other foot problems.

4. Wash Your Feet in Warm, NOT Hot Water. And don’t soak your feet even if you’ve been standing all day because it could dry your skin and form cracks or sores.

5. Dry Your Feet Thoroughly, Especially Between Your Toes. These are natural moisture traps – leaving them damp or wet could create all sorts of problems.

6. Exercise Your Legs and Feet Regularly. Even when sitting you can rotate your ankles; wiggle your toes or move your legs up and down. All these keep your blood circulation flowing to minimize the risk of foot problems.

7. Get Your Feet Professionally Checked. Have your feet checked at least once a year for sensitivity and signs of any problems.

You can usually arrange this when you have your annual check up for your blood pressure, cholesterol and AC1 levels, also known as blood glucose levels over a 3-month period.

Taking these 7 simple Type 2 Diabetes foot care actions will help you reduce the risk of painful foot problems or leg amputations.