Not going barefoot

[Sadsac@21]

I have a foot appointment next week. When I had my first appointment I seem to remember being told that I could no longer go barefoot, must always wear shoes but not sandals, flip flops or basically anything nice. She also told me off for wearing nail varnish and said I shouldn’t do that either ‍
I’m a bit of a shoe addict and have lots of them of different designs, I particularly like my strappy sandals and in the summer if I can go barefoot then that is my preferred option.
My question is: is it a rule that I can no longer wear any of my shoes/sandals? Can I really not wear nail varnish?

 

[lovinglife]

I have a foot appointment next week. When I had my first appointment I seem to remember being told that I could no longer go barefoot, must always wear shoes but not sandals, flip flops or basically anything nice. She also told me off for wearing nail varnish and said I shouldn’t do that either ‍
I’m a bit of a shoe addict and have lots of them of different designs, I particularly like my strappy sandals and in the summer if I can go barefoot then that is my preferred option.
My question is: is it a rule that I can no longer wear any of my shoes/sandals? Can I really not wear nail varnish?

What were her reasons for this advice? Do you have problems with your feet? If not and you are low risk in your checks, i.e) your foot checks throw nothing up like neuropathy or circulation problems then I see no reason why not, bare foot maybe if you want to be extra cautious but I wear all those things, get a professional pedicure with the works on my nails every four weeks. I also twice a year see a podiatrist. The podiatrist & the nurse who does my foot checks always admire my painted nails and say my feet look great because I take care of them. The nurse said last time that self care & looking nice is good for you.

My favourite thing to do when I’m out in my garden is to take my shoes off and stand in the grass, it’s a great feeling!

 

[Ushthetaff]

I’ve never been told I can’t wear sandals , flip flops I have been told not to go bear foot which is in case you get neuropathy in your feet and if you stand on something sharp you may not feel it . Personally I find wearing sandals keep my feet fresher than if my feet are cooped up in shoes with socks on making my feet hot and sweaty an ideal scenario for athletes foot or other foot fungai

 

[Rachox]

I agree with @lovinglife , if you have good, that is normal, feeling and circulation in your feet then do what anyone would normally do. That’s my opinion. Enjoy being barefoot, enjoy wearing pretty shoes and nail varnish. Personally I check my feet daily for any signs of damage and keep them clean and moisturised to avoid cracks and blisters.
The worry is you’ll hurt your feet and not realise if you have neuropathy and wounds won’t heel if your circulation is poor.

Edit for clarity.

 

[Sadsac@21]

There were no problems with my feet at all. She commented on a bit of dry skin on my heels but apart from that said there wasn’t any problems.

 

[mouseee]

I've had at least 5 check ups on feet, admittedly just at GP and no one has ever commented on footwear.
If your feet are healthy let them breathe! I have found fitflop flipflops having never wanted to wear any kind of flip flop anf they are amazing, comfy supportive etc. I suppose cheap ones could be bad for feet and I can't do completely flat shoes either.

 

[jaywak]

Some advice can just be rubbish , when I was first diagnosed I was told that diabetics must never wear slip on shoes .

 

[simscheryl]

I’ve been living with diabetes for 17 years and am pretty much a hobbit in the summer!!!! If your blood sugar is under control and you don’t have any foot problems, I don’t see why not. I suppose the reasoning behind the advice is it takes longer for diabetics to heal? And like mentioned above, you might not feel it if you hurt yourself, but again, that’s only if you have nerve problems which you would know about!

 

[KennyA]

Just put some sandals on an hour or so ago as I've been barefoot all day. I wear Merrell sandals pretty much constantly.

Some advice is just wrong.

 

[EllieM]

I think it maybe shouldn't be blanket advice for all diabetics, but the reason is that long term diabetics are prone to neuropathy and slow healing in their feet, so the advice does apply.

Diabetes New Zealand

www.diabetes.org.nz

So if you've been maintaining pretty well normal blood sugars, you are fine, but for those of us with more mediocre control, it's good advice.

Edited to add, I'm referring to the "don't go barefoot" advice, have no idea why nail polish would be an issue.

 

[Taighnamona]

I think it maybe shouldn't be blanket advice for all diabetics, but the reason is that long term diabetics are prone to neuropathy and slow healing in their feet, so the advice does apply.

Diabetes New Zealand

www.diabetes.org.nz

So if you've been maintaining pretty well normal blood sugars, you are fine, but for those of us with more mediocre control, it's good advice.

Edited to add, I'm referring to the "don't go barefoot" advice, have no idea why nail polish would be an issue.

Re the nail polish issue. I have a fleeting memory from many many years ago of a nurse, when I was in hospital, removing my nail polish so they could see the colour of the nail bed. So possibly to do with circulation, maybe blood oxygenation?
Like others on here though I can’t see how that advice pertains to those who have good control.

 

[jaywak]

Going off topic a bit but I have read that nail varnish is a carcinogenic so perhaps not a good idea to be using it anyway .

 

[JoKalsbeek]

My sandal-clad feet are waving to your feet. As long as there's no neuropathy, ulcers or whatever going on... Problems with extremities in a diabetic can turn ugly, sure. But if you have good sensation in your feet... I'd say why the heck not? And it's not like anyone is going to walk beside you every day and slap you silly if you dare go barefoot for even a second.

Take care of your feet, and you should be able to wear whatever you want. (I am contrary and I know it, but I think I'm also right, haha).
Good luck, and enjoy the breeze between your toes!
Jo
PS: I varnish the suckers, too.

 

[Outlier]

I use nail varnish on my toes all summer, and Nursie has never commented on it when taking blood/doing diabetic foot check except to say how nice it looks and that my feet are well cared for (I moisturise them daily too).

I suspect the advice you were given was just that person's opinion. Of course we diabetics need to take extra care of our feet, but well-fitting sandals or barefoot in suitable conditions sounds a bit OTT.

 

[Sadsac@21]

Thank you everyone for confirming my initial thoughts when I was told all this information.
I must admit that everything I have been told from the health care people since being diagnosed in January has been on the negative side and I’ve not been entirely sure on what advice I should listen to. I feel I am sensible enough to understand my body and have done so much research that I have quite a good understanding of how things can go wrong.
I think I just wanted to hear from like minded people to check I wasn’t just being awkward just for the sake of it

 

[Lainie71]

If you have no issues with your feet then I say carry on as you are. Paint the toes and wear nice shoes

 

[Lainie71]

Thank you everyone for confirming my initial thoughts when I was told all this information.
I must admit that everything I have been told from the health care people since being diagnosed in January has been on the negative side and I’ve not been entirely sure on what advice I should listen to. I feel I am sensible enough to understand my body and have done so much research that I have quite a good understanding of how things can go wrong.
I think I just wanted to hear from like minded people to check I wasn’t just being awkward just for the sake of it

When I was told by the dn that she had never had a patient drop their levels by lchf in all her nursing career, I politely replied well I had best just sit down, no lie down and die now then!? She went very quiet and I rested my case. Awkward is just the tip of the iceberg with my health care team

 

[LittleGreyCat]

When I was first diagnosed in 2008 I was given a load of advice (some very good) including always having your feet protected by shoes or slippers.
For the first few months I was paranoid about this (and other things).
After a while, when I realised that my feet still had full sensation and any cuts and grazes healed well, I resumed walking barefoot in the house and wearing Crocs and Birkenstocks outside in the summer.
I held the majority view in this thread; if your feet are good and regularly checked then why be paranoid?

Later I became involved as a volunteer with Diabetes UK both at the local level and with the Diabetes Audit amongst other things.
This included a Footcare Audit.
Recently we (volunteers) had a very informative talk from a Diabetes Footcare specialist team.
I put the point to them that I had good control, good sensation and healed well.
They were very strongly of the opinion that even so I should always take precautions.

These are caring professionals, not at all scaremongers.
I suspect that they spend their whole working life treating people who have ignored advice and damaged their feet, then probably not noticed for some time.
They will be seeing amputations as a regular thing.
This must surely colour your view on the world in general.
They only see injured people and do not see the rest of us who are mainly managing nicely, thank you.

I must emphasise that this isn't advice to ignore the professionals.
Just a suggestion that they may take a very strict view because of the cross section of patients that they see.
Please always check your feet, if possible every day, or get someone else to do it for you.
I check mine every day after my shower.
Any questions, I as my partner to double check.

 

[Outlier]

They only see injured people and do not see the rest of us who are mainly managing nicely, thank you.

IMO that is EXACTLY it.

 

[Sadsac@21]

I’ve had my screening appointment and saw the same person as last time. This time she admired my strappy sandals, loved my toenails and couldn’t have been more different to how she was last time ‍. Told me to carry on doing what I’m doing because my feet were ‘wonderful’. I can only think she was having a bad day last time I saw her.