How to avoid nicks and cuts that can cause infections.
By Susan Bernstein
WebMD Feature
What’s more relaxing than soaking your feet and getting a pedicure? If you have diabetes, you'll have more peace of mind if you take precautions to avoid nicks or cuts on your skin at the spa or salon. You'll also lower your odds of getting an infection.
“Your blood flow is reduced, and even a small cuticle cut can get infected,” says Chuck Collins, 66, of Atlanta. Collins has type 2 diabetes, but he doesn't let that stop him from visiting a nail salon every 2 weeks for a pedicure.
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To stay safe, Collins bought a set of his own nail-care tools, such as files and cuticle sticks, for his specific use at the salon.
“They do not use my tools on anyone’s hands or feet. And when I come in, I insist that they sterilize the bowl before I put my feet in,” he says, adding that they know he has diabetes.
Look for Cleanliness at Salons and Speak Up
In general, it’s safe to get manicures or pedicures at a spa or nail salon if you have diabetes that's well-controlled, says Fred Williams, MD. He's a clinical endocrinologist in Louisville, KY. But choose carefully before you get services somewhere.
“The general rule of thumb is that there are really good places to get a pedicure and there are bad places,” Williams says. “Talk to someone you know who has been to that particular spa. Make sure they practice good hygiene, that their soaking solutions are changed frequently, and their instruments sterilized before each use. If the salon doesn’t seem quite right or doesn’t look clean, don’t go back.”
Always tell your nail technician or any spa-service provider that you have diabetes. This lets them know to use extra care while pampering you, even if you don’t feel anything is wrong, says Brent Bauer, MD. He is the medical director of the International Spa Association.
“Patients with diabetes often have special health challenges in addition to diabetes, such as heart disease, poor circulation, or nerve damage. So patients with diabetes who have nerve damage in their feet might not be able to feel pain during a pedicure. So they may be less able to give feedback to the technician,” Bauer says.
source : Spa Safety for People With Diabetes
