Question

A nurse is teaching about foot care with a group of older adults who have type 1 diabetes mellitus. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

A: Soak feet daily to soften calluses.
B: Apply a heating pad to the feet to improve circulation.
C: Choose sandals with open toes to wear in the summer.
D: Trim toenails straight across to prevent ingrown toenails.

Answer 1

The correct advice for foot care in older adults with type 1 diabetes is to trim toenails straight across to prevent ingrown nails and avoid soaking feet, using heating pads, or wearing open-toed sandals to prevent potential injuries.

Step-by-step explanation:

When teaching older adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus about foot care, one important piece of advice is to trim toenails straight across to prevent ingrown toenails. Soaking feet daily to soften calluses and applying a heating pad to improve circulation are not recommended as they could increase the risk of burns and injuries, especially since individuals with diabetes may have neuropathy which reduces their ability to feel pain. Open-toed sandals are also not suggested because they do not protect the feet from injuries.