How to Give a Pedicure to Someone With Diabetes

Having a pedicure is an important part of any beauty regimen. But if you suffer from foot complications caused by diabetes, a nick or cut on the feet could lead to infection and sores. Take certain precautions before you start filing, pumicing and polishing and you can make a pedicure an enjoyable part of your foot care routine. You can reduce your risk of infection and keep your feet looking their best.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Nail nippers
• Emery board
• Pumice stone
• Foot bath
• Lotion
• Nail polish

1. Let your hair grow long, the hair on your legs, that is. Don't shave your legs for two days before giving yourself a pedicure. While your legs may be hairy, shaving cuts can allow bacteria to infect your skin during the pedicure process. You're also less likely to develop pedicure-related irritation if you go unshaved.

2. Draw a lukewarm foot bath to soak your feet and soften the skin. Test the water with your hand before you place your feet in the bath, to make sure that it is not too hot.

3. Remove calluses with a pumice stone after soaking your feet. Use gentle strokes. Don't use metal callus removers or cut off calluses with a credo blade, as these callus treatments are too harsh for diabetic feet.

4. Cut your toenails and file using an emery board. Clip and file toenails straight across to avoid ingrown nails and don't clip toenails close to the skin--leave a bit of white showing. Don't clip cuticles or dead skin. Use toenail nippers instead of standard toenail clippers---they are gentler on nails. Make sure that your toenail nippers are clean before you start using them, as dirty tools can cause infection.

5. Moisturize your feet. Be generous with lotion but don't moisturize between toes.

6. Add nail polish.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have diabetes, be wary of salon pedicures. Salon foot baths may harbor bacteria and use water that is too hot for sensitive feet. Check that the pedicurist uses stainless steel tools sterilized in an autoclave (a pressurized sterilization chamber) or disposable tools. You can also bring your own clean tools to the salon for the pedicurist to use. Tell the pedicurist that you have diabetes and sensitive feet---once you tell her, she should take extra care to be gentle with your toes.

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