A community practical nurse is teaching a family member how to care for her 92-year-old mother with diabetes. Which foot care instruction is correct?

A community practical nurse is teaching a family member how to care for her 92-year-old mother with diabetes. Which foot care instruction is correct?

• A. Soak both feet daily for less than 15 minutes.
• B. Inspect the mother's feet at least twice a month for problems.
• C. File the mother's toenails straight across and square.
• D. Keep the mother's feet warm with a hot water bottle.

Answer: (C)

Caring for feet in diabetes centers on preventing injury and infection, since nerve changes and poor circulation can mask problems. Trimming toenails straight across and keeping edges smooth prevents nails from growing into the skin, which is a common route to painful ingrown nails and potential ulcers in someone with diabetes. This approach minimizes skin trauma at the nail margins and aligns with guidelines that emphasize safe nail care to reduce infection risk. Other practices described are not ideal for diabetic foot care. Soaking feet daily, even briefly, can soften and macerate the skin and raise infection risk. Inspecting feet only twice a month means missing early signs of problems like cracks or redness that should be caught promptly. Keeping feet warm with a hot water bottle can cause burns in someone with reduced sensation, so warmth should come from proper footwear and socks rather than direct heat.

Caring for feet in diabetes centers on preventing injury and infection, since nerve changes and poor circulation can mask problems. Trimming toenails straight across and keeping edges smooth prevents nails from growing into the skin, which is a common route to painful ingrown nails and potential ulcers in someone with diabetes. This approach minimizes skin trauma at the nail margins and aligns with guidelines that emphasize safe nail care to reduce infection risk.

Other practices described are not ideal for diabetic foot care. Soaking feet daily, even briefly, can soften and macerate the skin and raise infection risk. Inspecting feet only twice a month means missing early signs of problems like cracks or redness that should be caught promptly. Keeping feet warm with a hot water bottle can cause burns in someone with reduced sensation, so warmth should come from proper footwear and socks rather than direct heat.