Because diabetes numbs nerves, a person with the disease may not notice when a shoe is rubbing skin raw. Diabetes also affects blood circulation, slowing healing. Without attentive care, minor foot abrasions in someone with diabetes can become ulcers and infections. These conditions can result in foot amputations.

To prevent small problems from becoming large ones, people with diabetes should inspect their feet daily for cracks, cuts, or blisters, and should seek professional care for any foot sore right away. They should also avoid anything that could cause injury: water that is too hot, exposure to harsh cold in winter, and walking barefoot indoors or out.

A free information kit is available on foot care as part of the "Feet Can Last a Lifetime" program sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases--a component of the National Institutes of Health--and a consortium of organizations with an interest in diabetes. The kit offers fact sheets and booklets on foot care, a plastic "hanger" to use on a bath or bedroom doorknob or towel bar with quick tips for daily care, and information on other resources for people with diabetes. To get the kit, call 1-800-438-5383.

Be HEALTHWise

If you have diabetes:

Check your bare feet every day for cuts, sores, bumps, and red spots. Use a mirror or ask a family member for help if you have trouble seeing the bottoms of your feet.

Wash your feet in warm--not hot--water every day. Do not soak your feet. Dry your feet with a soft towel. Dry between your toes.

Cover your feet with a lotion or petroleum jelly after washing them. Do not put the lotion or jelly between your toes.

Have your doctor check your bare feet at every visit.

Cut your toenails straight across. Do not leave sharp edges that could cut the next toe.

For more information on this study, reporters can contact: Charlotte Armstrong Writer and Editor, NIH Phone: 301-496-8855 Fax: 301-496-0019 For more information on diabetes, call or write: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse Attention: HEALTHWise 1 Information Way Bethesda, MD 20892-3560 Phone: 301-654-3327

Is Diabetes Preventable? An estimated 21 million Americans have a disorder of sugar metabolism that is milder than diabetes, but predisposes them to develop it later in life. The National Institutes of Health is studying whether it is possible for people with this condition--impaired glucose tolerance--to prevent or delay getting diabetes using a diet aimed at weight loss and exercise or medication. Twenty-five medical centers are participating in this trial across the country. If you might be interested in participating in this Diabetes Prevention Program, and would like to know if there is a center near you, call toll-free 1-888-377-5646. NIH has just launched another study to determine if taking a capsule of insulin crystals can prevent or delay Type I diabetes, also called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes, in people who are at increased risk for developing this disease. Insulin crystals cannot be used to treat diabetes because they are broken down in digestion. However, giving people insulin capsules may stop the body's immune system from destroying the cells that make insulin, a hormone that's needed for sugar metabolism. Volunteers for this study must have a relative with Type I diabetes and be between the ages of 3 to 45. People interested in finding out about this study can call 1-800-425-8361.--an NIH HEALTHWise report, November/December 1996