Diabetes spurred nurse to become foot-care specialist

By Chris Baur Feb. 28, 2008

When Cheryl Best found out she had diabetes, she was shocked.

And very afraid.

“I was afraid of developing the diabetic foot. And then losing it. That was something I would not allow to happen to myself.”

As a registered foot-care nurse, Best takes foot care very seriously and believes everyone else should too.

In fact, too many people already neglect their feet. And this can lead to a series of foot problems, according to Best.

Some of these problems can include fungal infection, overgrown nails and calluses. In the worst care, amputation may occur.

“I’ve worked on people who have not properly looked after their feet and some have even lost toes, which can lead to imbalance,” said Best. “Looking after your feet is important because everything starts at the foot.”

As a mobile foot-care nurse, Best goes right to the client, sometimes seeing several a day.

It’s a line of work she loves.

For years, Best worked as a registered nurse, but when she developed diabetes she realized the importance of healthy feet.

It was then she decided to specialize in the field. She hasn’t looked back since.

Best said simple foot care is not hard to maintain, and should be done at least every six weeks. That’s especially true during winter.

“Winter is hard on the foot. It is essential to look after it during this time of year. Because winter is so dry, most people’s feet will crack, bleed and become extremely sore.”

Best has seen her fair share of unhealthy feet.

“This one client was elderly and couldn’t look after her own feet. When I saw her, there was nothing I could do. The toes looked like the beak of a parrot.”

Best had to send her to a podiatrist.

“Many people confuse me as a foot doctor, which I’m not. A podiatrist does more extensive work, such as surgeries. I do more of the maintenance on the foot.”

And depending on the condition of a person’s foot, Best said the time spent on it could be anywhere from a half hour to an hour.

Wendy Cathcart, a client of Best’s, has to have her feet looked after on a regular basis.

“Because I’m older, I can’t cut my nails by myself. The massage I have done on them gets my circulation going and this helps me to walk better.”