A nurse teaches a client with type 2 diabetes to prevent foot infections. Which statement indicates effective self-care?

• A. Massage my feet and legs with oil or lotion.
• B. Apply heat intermittently to my feet and legs.
• C. Eat foods high in protein and carbohydrate kilocalories.
• D. Control my blood glucose with diet, exercise, and medication.

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is that keeping blood glucose well controlled is the most effective way to prevent foot infections in diabetes. When glucose is stabilized through a combination of diet, exercise, and prescribed medications, the body’s immune function works better and wounds heal more efficiently. This reduces the chance that even a small foot injury will become infected, and it also slows the progression of complications that make feet more vulnerable, such as neuropathy and poor circulation. So stating that you’ll control blood glucose with diet, exercise, and medication shows an understanding of preventing infections through addressing the underlying risk factor.

Foot self-care still matters—regularly inspecting feet, keeping them clean and dry, choosing proper footwear, and protecting them from injury are important—but they don’t address the infection risk as directly as glycemic control. The other statements either describe practices that can cause harm (such as applying heat to feet when sensation is reduced, which can lead to burns) or focus on aspects not directly tied to infection prevention (like massage or general nutrition).