Self Care Tips

You can decrease swelling by:

• Resting and not putting weight on your foot
• Elevating your foot on a pillow at or above the level of your heart

Take Care of Your Feet Everyday

Check your feet every day.

• Check your feet for cuts, sores, red spots, swelling, and infected toenails. You may have foot problems, but feel no pain in your feet.
• Check your feet each evening when you take off your shoes.
• If you have trouble bending over to see your feet, use a mirror to help. You can also ask a family member or caregiver to help you.

Are the Sosten of the Body

Over time, diabetes can cause you to lose feeling in your feet. When you lose feeling in your feet, you may not feel a pebble inside your sock or a blister on your foot, which can lead to cuts and sores. Diabetes also can lower the amount of blood flow in your feet. Numbness and less blood flow in the feet can lead to foot problems.

Three Different Bones can be Fractured

When a bone breaks or cracks, the injury is called a fracture. In the ankle, three different bones can be fractured:

• The tibia - This is the larger of the two bones in the lower leg. The tibia's lower end flares out, forming a hard, bony knob, called the medial malleolus, which you can feel at the inside of your ankle.
• The fibula - This is the thinner of the two bones of the lower leg. Its lower end forms a hard, bony knob, called the lateral malleolus, which you can feel at the outside of your ankle.
• The talus - This is a wedge-shaped bone that is located deep inside the ankle, braced between the heel bone and the ends of the tibia and fibula. The talus supports the lower ends of the tibia and fibula, and it forms a solid base for the normal range of ankle movements.