Sale!!!

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By Diane Forrest

(Smart shopper)

Years ago when my 4 cousins from Texas were young, they would travel to Mississippi for Thanksgiving.  The following day was the Annual Crackerjack Sale.  The local department store would hand out boxes of crackerjacks to the early shoppers and the prize inside were percent off coupons.  Some 10%, 15% and 20%.  There was also a diamond ring and a gift certificate per store. Since my mother and aunt took a little longer to get dressed, I would take the 4 girls with me.   The store has several doors, so we would go in one door, get our crackerjacks, then go out and come in another door.  We would hit all the doors, then head out to my mother's, by then my mom and aunt would be dressed, then we would go back again for more coupons.  At the end of the day we would pour all the crackerjacks into a zip lock bag and give them to my grandmother who would take them on a church trip that the seniors would take following Thanksgiving.  We did this every year for many years.   It was wonderful fun and made for many good memories.  Later on my husband, who was unable to move around in the store in his wheelchair, was asked to hand out the crackerjacks to incoming customers, a job he really loved doing.

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Black Friday is not a "holiday".  It refers to the shopping day that takes place the day after Thanksgiving.  It is called Black Friday because it indicates the point at which retailers begin to turn a profit, or "in the black."  Black Friday has not been considered the biggest shopping day of the year until 2003.  In 2004 it came in second, but has held first place in the years that have followed. There have been occasional problems with Black Friday.  People lining up at the doors wanting to be the first in line, fighting over sales have resulted in police being called, and in 2008 a 34 year old man was trampled with the rush of shoppers, and later died.

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One of my best Black Fridays’ happened a few years ago, in 2007.  My stepson was getting married the following March, and I had been looking for a kitchen aid mixer for them.  I happened to look at Wal-Mart’s website and noticed a secret sale.  Each store was going to have one mixer for $199.00.  It was so secret even the employee’s didn’t know about it.  I went at 4 a.m., since the store is open 24 hours, but they were not going to ring up items on sale til 5 a.m.  I picked up the mixer, put it in the cart, and stood at the register until time for them to start ringing up.  I was the first to get the mixer, so I won!  I was so excited I told everyone I met the rest of the day.

The best way to shop is to check out the sales, make a map of the items you want, purchase your items, then head back to bed.  Be safe, have fun and good luck!

Did you know?

In 1939, retail shops would have liked to have a longer shopping season, but no store wanted to break with tradition and be the one to start advertising before Thanksgiving. President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the date for Thanksgiving one week earlier, leading to much anger by the public who wound up having to change holiday plans some even refused the change, resulting in the U.S. citizens celebrating Thanksgiving on two separate days. Some started referring to the change as Franksgiving.

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For the official Black Friday deals online, check here: http://www.theblackfriday.com/

Grandparents!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

1.  She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before.  After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Grandma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!"  I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye....

2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday.  He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 62.  My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked,  "Did you start at 1?"

3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair.  As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin.  Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room,  putting them back to bed with stern warnings.  As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice,

"Who was THAT?"

4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like.  "We used to skate outside on a pond..  I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard.  We rode our pony.  We picked wild raspberries in the woods."

The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in.  At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

5.  My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?''  "You're both old," he replied.

6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story.

"What's it about?" he asked.

"I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."

7.  I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her.  I would point out  something and ask what color it was.  She would tell me and was always correct.  It was fun for me, so I continued.  At last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these colors  yourself!"

8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin,  we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects.  Still, a few fireflies followed us in.  Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa.  Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure."  "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised  "Mine says I'm 4 to 6."

10. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what?  We learned how to make babies today."  The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting." she said.  "How do you make babies?"

"It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."

11. Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote:  "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant."  The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked.

"Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."

12. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past.  Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog.  The children started discussing the dog's duties.

"They use him to keep crowds back," said one child.

"No," said another. "He's just for good luck."

A third child brought the argument to a close. “They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."

13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived.  "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her.  Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."

14. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth!  He teaches me good good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!

15. My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over,  you  hear gas leaks and they blame their dog.

SEND THIS TO OTHER GRANDPARENTS, ALMOST GRANDPARENTS, OR HECK, SEND IT TO EVERYONE. IT WILL MAKE THEIR DAY!

11/24 Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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By Diane Forrest,

The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast - including 91 natives who had helped the Pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the Pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the natives. The feast was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days.

In 1789, President George Washington wrote a Thanksgiving Proclamation at the request from the members of Congress. Here is the beginning of that Proclamation:

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays.   No presents to buy, no halls to "Deck", just spending time with your family and friends and eating wonderful food!  It is a time to think about all you have to be thankful for.  No matter what you have, or what problems you have, there is always something to give thanks for.  Last thanksgiving was particularly hard for me.  I had just lost my husband two weeks before, my sewage system had collapsed, and nothing was right.  I am the family blessing sayer, so I had to give thanks for something.  It wasn't hard.  All I had to do was look around the room at my family around, the table full of food, and the roof over our head to be thankful for what I had.

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This Thanksgiving, forget about your problems for the day, and go around the table and say what you are thankful for.  Once you start thinking about it, you will be amazed how much you are blessed with.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Did you know that: shortly after the Thanksgiving Proclamation was written, it was lost for 130 years? The original document was written in long hand by William Jackson, secretary to the President, and was then signed by George Washington. It was probably misplaced or mixed in with some private papers when the US capitol moved from New York to Washington, D.C. The original manuscript was not placed in the National Archives until 1921 when Dr. J. C. Fitzpatrick, assistant chief of the manuscripts division of the Library of Congress found the proclamation at an auction sale being held at an art gallery in New York. Dr. Fitzpatrick purchased the document for $300.00 for the Library of Congress, in which it now resides. It was the first official presidential proclamation issued in the United States.

From our home…

…to your home…

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11/24 Celebrating Native American

By Diane Forrest,

When I was growing up in the Mississippi Delta I went to a school that only had grades 1-6.   The last year I attended that school my class was rewarded a field trip to Memphis Tennessee, about 60 miles from home.  While we were there we toured a Chuckalissa Indian Village.  It was during this trip that I was able to see firsthand the lifestyles of one of the country's Native American Tribes.   As we toured the museum we were able to view the home conditions, the tools they used, the clothes, jewelry and pottery they made, and games they played.  We learned about the way they raised their families, ceremonies they shared, and burial techniques for their family and friends.  For the most part I learned that the Indian culture was not that different from any other culture in the world.  Each family member had their own specific job to perform for the good of the tribe.

I’m not sure when the term Native American was first introduced, however, in a 1995 Census Bureau interview, most people preferred to be identified as American Indian, or simply Indian.  There are 562 federally recognized tribes in the U.S.  Of the 2,786,652 Native Americans in the United States, a third occupies 3 states, California, Arizona and Oklahoma.

The American Indian is responsible for many contributions; some of these include the tipi, their home constructed with animal skins and logs.  A whole tribe can be packed and moved in an hour's time.  They also developed the use of adobe in the building of their homes.  They domesticated corn or Maize as they call it, and were the first to drink cocoa.

Field and Ice Hockey are based on the Indian game known as Shinny, and they invented the toy spinning top as well as a form of basketball.

They are extremely proficient in weaving baskets, making jewelry, pottery and blankets.

There are many famous Native Americans, some include:

Sitting Bull, 1831 to 1890Was a Hunkpapa Lakota medicine man and holy man. He is famous in both American and Native American history mostly for his major victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn against Custer, where his ‘premonition’ of defeating them became reality. Even today, his name is synonymous with Native American culture, and he is considered to be one of the most famous Native Americans ever.

Tecumseh 1768-1813

Tecumseh became well known for taking disparate tribes folk and maintaining hold on the land that was rightfully theirs.

Geronimo 1829-1909

Defended his people against the encroachment of the US on their tribal lands for over 25 years.   He staged what was to be the last great Native American uprising, and eventually moved to a reservation often giving permissions to appear at fairs and schools.

Sequoiah 1767-1843

Was a silversmith who invented the Cherokee Syllabry, thus earning him a place on the list of inventors of writing systems as well.

November is Native American Heritage Month.  This is a time to recognize the Native American culture and their contributions as well as the sacrifices they made.

Did you know that Will Rogers was a Native American?  Rogers was born to a well-respected Native American Territory family and learned to ride horses and use a lasso/lariat so well that he was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for throwing three ropes at once—one around the neck of a horse, another around the rider, and a third around all four legs of the horse. He ultimately traveled around the world several times, made 71 films (50 silent and 21 “talkies”), wrote more than 4,000 nationally-syndicated newspaper columns, and became a world-famous figure. He died in a plane crash in 1935.

THE TEN NATIVE AMERICAN COMMANDMENTS

1. Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.

2. Remain close to the Great Spirit, in all that you do.

3. Show great respect for your fellow beings.

(Especially Respect yourself)

4. Work together for the benefit of all Mankind.

5. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.

6. Do what you know to be right.

(But be careful not to fall into self-righteousness)

7. Look after the well being of mind and body.

8. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.

9. Be truthful and honest at all times.

(Especially be truthful and honest with your self)

10. Take full responsibility for your actions

The Second National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month

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By Akindman

In the United States, stomach cancer is one of the rare forms of cancer. And yet, it is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.

What is stomach cancer?

First things first. What is a stomach? That may sound like a trick question, but doctors and patients often use the same word to mean different things. In the medical sense, your stomach isn’t just your abdomen – it’s a specific organ, the muscular sac that holds food before it moves on to your intestines.

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Stomach (or gastric) cancer, is like other kinds of cancer. It’s a type of cell reproduction that goes out-of-control. The overgrowth of cells, which is a tumor, usually begins on the mucus-producing cells that line the inside of the stomach. If left untreated, the tumor can grow, and eventually spread cancer to other parts of the body.

What causes stomach cancer?

That’s the big question. As is often the case, how and why gastric cancer develops is mysterious. The first cell to become cancerous hosts a DNA copying error – a mistake in the cell’s software that causes uncontrolled division. Some researchers believe this tends to happen at the site of sores or polyps in the stomach lining.

But we don’t know what causes that error in the first place. We do know is that there are a number of factors that elevate your risk of stomach cancer. These risk factors include:

• A family history of gastric cancer;
• Infection with H. pylori – a bacterium that has been linked with stomach ulcers;
• Chronic gastritis – a long-term inflammation of the stomach;
• Obesity;
• Smoking;
• A diet high in salty, pickled, or smoked foods, and low in fruits and vegetables; and
• A diet high in aflatoxin (a byproduct of mold found in peanuts).

What are the symptoms of stomach cancer?

It depends on the progression of the disease. In the earlier stages, it can produce vague symptoms, such as:

• Loss of appetite;
• Heartburn, bloating, and indigestion; and
• Nausea.

In later stages, the symptoms become more severe. They include:

• Blood in the stool;
• Vomiting;
• Weight loss; and
• Stomach pain, possibly severe.

How is stomach cancer diagnosed?

First, you’ve got to find a doctor. After eliminating other possibilities, there are several tests your doctor might use to look for signs of the disease. First, your doctor might run the fecal occult blood test on your stool to look for blood. Next, your doctor might x-ray your digestive system after you drink a solution of barium (a dye which makes the final image clearer).

Finally, your doctor might perform an endoscopy. During this procedure, a very thin tube with a tiny camera on the end is passed down your throat, so the doctor can make a direct, visual examination of your stomach. If a suspicious are is found, the doctor may take a biopsy – a tissue sample – and inspect it under a microscope. This is a definitive way to diagnose gastric cancer.

How is stomach cancer treated??

The type of treatment you receive depends on several factors, including the disease’s stage of progression, and your overall health. There are three methods of treatment available, which may be used in combination:

1. Surgery – The goal is to physically remove the cancerous tumor. A surgeon can accomplish this with minimal damage to the stomach, or by total removal of the stomach, depending on the size of the tumor. 
2. Radiation therapy – A radiation oncologist will direct beams of energy at the tumor to destroy it. Other tissues may be harmed as a result, and side effects (such as nausea and vomiting) can be considerable.
3. Chemotherapy – An oncologist will administer a series of drugs to your whole body, in an effort to shrink a tumor or kill remaining cells. Side effects vary, depending on the type of drug used.

How widespread is stomach cancer?

As we noted before, it’s relatively rare in the US – but still a huge issue, overall. It was estimated that over a million people were diagnosed with the disease in 2007, and over 800,000 would die. In the US alone, it was estimated that over 21,000 new cases would be diagnosed and 10,000 deaths recorded last year.

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What can we do to prevent stomach cancer?

Consider the risk factors. People who quit smoking (or never start), maintain a healthy weight, and eat a healthy diet (high in fruits and vegetables, low in salty, pickled, and smoked foods) are in the lowest-risk category.

Diet is thought to be especially significant. Historically, rates of gastric cancer in Japan have been very high because the Japanese diet has tended to be high in salty and pickled foods. As the Japanese diet has become increasingly Westernized, rates of the disease have fallen.

It’s also important to note that, like most other diseases, your chances of success depend on how quickly you catch it. If you have the early symptoms (loss of appetite, indigestion, etc.), talk to your physician about it. You probably don’t have stomach cancer! But the sooner you act, the sooner you can rule it out as a possibility.

Where can we get more information?

Check out No Stomach For Cancer. They’re organizing National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month, and they’ve got a bunch of information about research, education, and events that you can get involved in to show your support for the fight against stomach cancer.

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11/23 National Espresso Day

By Diane Forrest,

A few weeks ago we had National Cappuccino day.  We learned that cappuccino is a coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk and foam.  Espresso is the base for several coffee drinks, they are listed below.  Espresso is a concentrated beverage brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee. Espresso is widely known throughout the world.  It is made by using a special machine, and rose in popularity in coffee houses across the US in the 1990's.

The espresso coffee machine was invented in Italy in 1901 by Luigi Bezzera in order to decrease his employees' coffee break time and increase their productivity. Bezzera's machine used steam pressure to force hot water through the ground coffee filters. This allowed coffee to be prepared quickly by the cup on demand and the resulting brew of coffee was also stronger in flavor and body.

Today is National Espresso Day.  Check the list below or just have a regular espresso, and enjoy a divine experience.

• Affogato (It. "drowned"): Espresso served over gelato. Traditionally, vanilla is used, but some coffeehouses or customers use any flavor.
• Americano ("American"): Espresso and hot water, classically using equal parts each, with the water added to the espresso. Americano was created by American G.I.s during World War I, who added hot water to dilute the strong taste of the traditional espresso. It is similar to a long black but with opposite order.
• Antoccino ("priceless"): A single shot of espresso with the same quantity of steamed milk poured above it, served in a demitasse (espresso cup)
• Bicerin ( "little glass"): Made of layers of espresso, drinking chocolate, and whole milk, invented and served in Turin.
• Black eye: A cup of drip coffee with two shots of espresso in it (alternately a red-eye or shot in the dark).
• Bombón (Sp. "confection"): Espresso served with condensed milk, served in Southeast Asia, Canary Islands, Cook Islands and Mainland Spain
• Breve (It. "brief"): Espresso with half-and-half
• Bucci Espresso served in Key West's Cuban cafes (sugar is always added; but may be added before or after brewing)
• Café au lait (Fr. "coffee with milk"): Made by combining equal proportions of strongly brewed drip coffee and hot milk . In the United States, it is usually prepared instead with French press or drip coffee. (Very similar to "latte", see entry for lattes below)
• Cafè Marocchino: Created in Turin, normally served in a small glass, this is a shot of espresso, a sprinkling of cocoa, frothed whole milk (about two tablespoons to bring to the brim of the glass), then a further sprinkling of cocoa is added on top.
• Caffè Macchiato (It. "stained"): A small amount of milk or, sometimes, its foam is spooned onto the espresso, in Italy it further differentiates between caffè macchiato caldo (warm) and caffè macchiato freddo (cold), depending on the temperature of the milk being added; the cold version is gaining in popularity, as some people are not able to stand the rather hot temperature of caffè macchiato caldo, and therefore have to wait one or two minutes before being able to consume this version of the drink. The caffè macchiato is to be differentiated from the latte macchiato (described above). In France, it is known as a noisette.
• Caffè Medici: A doppio poured over chocolate syrup and orange (and sometimes lemon) peel, usually topped with whipped cream, the drink originated at Seattle's historic Last Exit on Brooklyn coffeehouse.
• Caffè Tobio: Espresso with an equal amount of American coffee, similar to Americano or long black
• Cappuccino: Traditionally, one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third microfoam, often in the United States, the cappuccino is made as a cafè latte with much more foam, which is less espresso than the traditional definition would require. Sometimes it is topped upon request with a light dusting of cocoa powder.
• Carajillo: (Sp. slang for "nothing"): Espresso with a shot of brandy.
• Con hielo (Sp. "with ice"): Espresso immediately poured over two ice cubes, it is preferred in Madrid during summer.
• Corretto (It. "corrected"): coffee with a shot of liquor, usually grappa or brandy. Corretto is also the common Italian word for "spiked (with liquor)".
• Cortado (Sp./Port. "cut"): Espresso "cut" with a small amount of warm milk
• Cubano (Sp. "Cuban"): Sugar is added to the collection container before brewing for a sweet flavor, different from that if the sugar is added after brewing. Sugar can also be whipped into a small amount of espresso after brewing and then mixed with the rest of the shot. Sometimes called cafe tinto.
• Doppio: (It. "Double") Double (2 US fluid ounces) shot of espresso.
• Espresso con panna (It. "espresso with cream"): Espresso with whipped cream on top
• Flat white: a coffee drink made of one-third espresso and two thirds steamed milk with little or no foam, very similar to "latte"
• Frappe: Iced coffee topped with whipped cream and usually chocolate syrup (flavors varies)
• Frappuccino: A type of espresso coffee blended with ice and milk, branded exclusively by Starbucks

• Guillermo: Originally, one or two shots of hot espresso, poured over slices of lime it can also be served on ice, sometimes with a touch of milk.
• Ice brewed: Brewed with chips or cubes of ice added to the basket, which results in more volume and creme. Originated on small, inexpensive espresso machines, the technique is useful on other machines to change depth of flavor and other characteristics.
• Latte (It. "milk"): This term is an abbreviation of "caffellatte" (or caffè e latte), coffee and milk. An espresso-based drink with a volume of steamed milk, it is served with either a thin layer of foam or none at all, depending on the shop or customer's preference.
• Latte macchiato(It. "stained milk"): Essentially an inverted cafè latte, with the espresso poured on top of the milk, the latte macchiato is to be differentiated from the caffè macchiato (described above). In Spain, it is known as manchada, Spanish for stained (milk).
• Long black: Similar to an Americano, but with the order reversed, the espresso is added to hot water.
• Lungo (It. "long"): More water (about 1.5x volume) is let through the ground coffee, yielding a weaker taste (40 mL), also known as an allongé in French.
• Marron (brown): Of Venezuelan etymology, it is an espresso with milk; it varies from marron claro (light brown) with more milk to marron oscuro (dark brown) with less milk.
• Mocha: Normally a latte blended with chocolate, this is not to be confused with the region of Yemen or the coffee associated with that region (which is often seen as 1/2 of the blend mocha java).
• Normale: A normal length shot, not ristretto or lungo, the term primarily is used to contrast with them.
• Red eye: A cup of drip coffee with one shot of espresso in it
• Ristretto (It. "restricted") or espresso corto (It. "short"): With less volume, it yields a stronger, sweeter taste (10–20 mL) (café serré or café court in French).
• Caffe Shakerato: An espresso with sugar shaken together with ice in a cocktail shaker
• Shot in the Dark: A cup of drip coffee with one shot of espresso in it. aka Canadiano.
• Solo (It. "single"): Single (1 US fluid ounce) shot of espresso
• Triple suicide A cup of drip coffee with three shot of espresso in it
• Triplo or triple shot: Triple (3 US fluid ounces) shot of espresso; "triplo" is rare; "triple shot" is more common.
• Turbo: A serving of brewed or iced coffee with a shot of espresso added, branded by Dunkin' Donuts.
• Wiener Melange (German: "Viennese blend"): coffee with milk, it is similar to a cappuccino, but usually made with milder coffee (e.g. mocha), preferably caramelised.
• Cafe Zorro: double espresso added to hot water. Ratio 1:1

Diabetes Foot Care

Foot Health Issues Related to Diabetes Awareness Month

By Akindman,

When you have diabetes, proper foot care is very important. Poor foot care with diabetes can lead to serious health problems, including possibly having to remove the foot or leg (amputation).

It's important to understand the connection between diabetes and foot care. As a person with diabetes, you are more vulnerable to foot problems because diabetes can damage your nerves and reduce blood flow to your feet. The American Diabetes Association estimates that one in five people with diabetes who seek hospital care do so for foot problems. By taking proper care of your feet, most serious health problems associated with diabetes can be prevented.

Here are some diabetes foot care tips to follow.

Wash and Dry Your Feet Daily

• Use mild soaps.
• Use warm water.
• Pat your skin dry; do not rub. Thoroughly dry your feet.
• After washing, use lotion on your feet to prevent cracking. Do not put lotion between your toes.

Examine Your Feet Each Day

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• Check the tops and bottoms of your feet. Have someone else look at your feet if you cannot see them.
• Check for dry, cracked skin.
• Look for blisters, cuts, scratches, or other sores.
• Check for redness, increased warmth, or tenderness when touching any area of your feet.
• Check for ingrown toenails, corns, and calluses.
• If you get a blister or sore from your shoes, do not "pop" it. Apply a bandage and wear a different pair of shoes.

Take Care of Your Toenails

• Cut toenails after bathing, when they are soft.
• Cut toenails straight across and smooth with a nail file.
• Avoid cutting into the corners of toes.
• You may want a podiatrist (foot doctor) to cut your toenails.

Be Careful When Exercising

• Walk and exercise in comfortable shoes.
• Do not exercise when you have open sores on your feet.
• Protect Your Feet with Shoes and Socks
• Never go barefoot. Always protect your feet by wearing shoes or hard-soled slippers or footwear.

Avoid shoes with high heels and pointed toes.

• Avoid shoes that expose your toes or heels (such as open-toed shoes or sandals). These types of shoes increase your risk for injury and potential infections.
• Try on new footwear with the type of socks you usually wear.
• Do not wear new shoes for more than an hour at a time.
• Look and feel inside your shoes before putting them on to make sure there are no foreign objects or rough areas.
• Avoid tight socks.
• Wear natural-fiber socks (cotton, wool, or a cotton-wool blend).
• Wear special shoes if your health care provider recommends them.
• Wear shoes/boots that will protect your feet from various weather conditions (cold, moisture, etc.).
• Make sure your shoes fit properly. If you have neuropathy (nerve damage), you may not notice that your shoes are too tight. Perform the "footwear test" described below.

Footwear Test

• Use this simple test to see if your shoes fit correctly:
• Stand on a piece of paper. (Make sure you are standing and not sitting, because your foot changes shape when you stand.)
• Trace the outline of your foot.
• Trace the outline of your shoe.
• Compare the tracings: Is the shoe too narrow? Is your foot crammed into the shoe? The shoe should be at least 1/2 inch longer than your longest toe and as wide as your foot.
• Proper Shoe Choices

The following types of shoes are best for people with diabetes:

• Closed toes and heels.
• Leather uppers without a seam inside.
• At least 1/2 inch extra space at the end of your longest toe.
• Inside of shoe should be soft with no rough areas.
• Outer sole should be made of stiff material.
• Shoe should be at least as wide as your foot.

Tips for Foot Care in Diabetes

• Don't wait to treat a minor foot problem if you have diabetes. Follow your health care provider's guidelines and the first aid guidelines.
• Report foot injuries and infections to your health care provider immediately.
• Check water temperature with your elbow, not your foot.
• Do not use a heating pad on your feet.
• Do not cross your legs.
• Do not self-treat your corns, calluses, or other foot problems. Go to your health care provider or podiatrist to treat these conditions.
• When to Talk to Your Doctor about Foot Care

Your health care provider should examine your feet at each visit. In addition, see your health care provider if you have any of the following problems with your feet:

• Athlete's foot (cracking between the toes)
• Sores or wounds on your feet
• Ingrown toenails
• Increasing numbness or pain
• Calluses
• Redness
• Blackening of skin
• Bunions
• Infection
• Hammer toes (when the middle joint of toes is permanently bent downward)

(WebMD - http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/caring-feet)