Caring for your feet is a special kind of feeling. A professional clinic like Feet First offers the best.

Serving Sault Ste. Marie and District.

A Patient’s Checklist  Diabetes and Foot Care 1. Wash your feet in warm (not hot) water, using a mild soap. 2. Dry feet carefully, especially between toes. 3. Apply an unscented lotion to your heels and soles. Wipe off excess lotion that is not absorbed. Don’t put lotion between your toes, as the excessive moisture may cause infection. 4. Keep your feet warm and dry. If socks become damp, change them. 5. Check your feet daily for cuts, ingrown toe nails, cracks, bruises, blisters, sores, infections or unusual markings 6. Use a mirror to check the bottom of your feet or have someone check for you. 7. Do not soak your feet, as this can dry your skin. 8. Change your socks daily and wear white socks with no or flat seams and loose fitting. 9. Always shake out your shoes and feel inside for foreign objects that could cause damage to your feet. 10. Always wear supportive footwear in and out of the home 11. Buy new footwear in the afternoon since your feet may swell slightly by afternoon 12. Always wear professionally fitted shoes from a reputable store. (Professionally fit Orthotics may help.) 13. Choose shoes with low heels and no seams in fore foot of footwear. Choose shoes with lace up or Velcro straps or elastic laces. 14. Don’t smoke. It reduces blood flow in your body. 15. All diabetics should have their diabetic foot care assessment done once yearly by a professional. 16. If your feet get cold at night, wear loose fitting socks to bed. Never use a heating pad! 17. See a foot care specialist if you need advice or treatment. 18. Call us any time if you have a problem or concern. You will be seen. Take Care of Your Diabetes: Keep Blood Sugars Under Control.

COMPRESSION THERAPY We are Certified Fitters. Products that are available: Venosan Sigvaris Some common symptoms are: • Heavy, tired, swollen, aching legs or ankles • Seeing the beginnings of spider or varicose veins Causes and Risk Factors are: • Long distance travel • Heredity • Age over 40 • Prolonged sitting or standing • Pregnancy • Obesity • Sedentary lifestyle • Surgery or trauma • Infectious disease Call us to find out more about compression therapy or come in and see our products available.

SERVICES OFFERED Pedorthic Services Nursing Foot Care Diabetic Foot Care Program Footwear Assessment Orthotics Information Nursing Foot Care Diabetic Foot Care Program Footwear Assessment

NURSING FOOT CARE SERVICES Include: Our principle nursing foot care services include a basic pedicure service. We provide care for individuals with diabetes, neuropathy, arthritis (both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis) and vascular problems. We provide diabetic risk assessment for ulceration of the feet. Diabetic health teaching is given, and education about types of neuropathy. This includes Autonomic, Sensory and Motor Neuropathy. We will assess footwear for all diabetic clients and provide education about the ideal features of footwear to best suit the individual needs. Nail Problems: May include ingrown toenails, thick and fungal nails, and ram’s horn nails. Skin Problems: Might be related to dryness, fissuring on the heels, corns, callusing, or autonomic neuropathy Reduction of Corns and Calluses: Many skin problems at the level of the foot are directly related to poor fitting footwear. Evaluation of footwear can be provided. Assessment and Treatment of Foot Related Problems We have a full diabetic foot care program at Feet First. The program includes individual appointments for: 1. Diabetic Foot Assessment This appointment includes sensitivity testing and risk assessment for diabetic ulceration, education on nail and skin care, and provision of nail and skin care. Recommendations for ideal level of care required to maintain foot health are provided. 2. Full Footwear Assessment At this appointment the client is asked to bring all footwear used for activities of daily living. They are reviewed and recommendations are made for ideal footwear to best suit individual needs. Education about the ideal features of footwear for individuals with diabetes is provided. 3. Pedorthic Assessment (as required) This appointment includes a physical, static and dynamic assessment of the lower limbs and feet. This appointment is necessary when an individual is complaining of foot and lower limb discomfort. It may also be necessary of an individual presenting with a foot deformity or other problems such as a leg length difference.

© Feet First Inc.           2011

Hours of Operation Monday to Friday 9:00 am till 6:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am till 4:00 pm Closed Sunday