How to Safely Offer Diabetic Pedicures

by Nicole Johnson in Nails Mag.

Any good nail technician strives to provide the best services for every client. But the reality is that some clients need a little extra time, thought, and care, especially those who have certain medical conditions or health sensitivities….

Beauty industry veteran and health-conscious product developer Joy Johnson knows this all too well. As a specialist in diabetic pedicures, she is an expert in the differing needs of the health-sensitive community, which is extremely important to her. Johnson lost her mother to metastatic breast cancer when she was just 16 years old.

“I have an affinity for that sensitive community because of my experience of seeing my mom deteriorate as the years went on with her sickness,” Johnson explains. “That’s what guided me to wanting to work with people that need help.”

How does type 2 diabetes affect my clients?

People with type 2 diabetes make up almost 10% of the U.S. population, and people of color are affected at a much higher rate, another reason that Johnson identifies with the community as a woman of color with a Black-owned business. Many diabetics suffer from neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that can cause numbness in the extremities. Therefore, it’s highly possible for a diabetic not to notice if they have an injury on their foot—they simply may not feel it.
“Diabetes affects the nervous system and the brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of the body,” says Johnson. “For example, if something is too hot for a diabetic, they usually have a delayed reaction, if any reaction at all. Their body hasn’t made them aware that what they’re touching is too hot.”

The disease can be controlled effectively through medicine, but some complications from diabetes, such as chronic high blood sugar, can weaken the immune system. The risk of severe infection from minor injuries like cuts or scrapes is high, and it can even lead to the need for amputation. This is why it’s helpful to have an outside person examining and taking care of their feet, especially for those who cannot do so for themselves due to age, pain, or lack of energy.

What should I do differently for diabetic clients?

First, to identify your diabetic or health-sensitive clients, have all new clients fill out a small health form to identify any conditions that are important for you to be aware of. Express to them that this will help you tailor your services to their individual needs.

• Time – Allow for more time with a diabetic client. For safety’s sake, you never want to rush their service.
• Communication – Chat with your client about how they’ve been feeling. Their answers may give you some clues about their health. For example, numbness or tingling in a client’s feet could be a sign of neuropathy. In addition, always ask about the level of pressure you are using during any massage portion of the service. What’s comfortable for another client may be uncomfortable for a diabetic.
• Temperature – Be aware of hot temperatures. Check the temperature of the water in the pedicure bowl yourself with your whole hand and wrist. A client with reduced sensitivity in their feet may not be able to feel if the water is too hot. Do not use paraffin wax on diabetic clients.
• Gentle Scrubs – Sugar and salt-based scrubs are dangerous for diabetic clients. The rough and jagged shapes of the grains create micro-tears in the skin during exfoliation, which is perfectly fine for most of us. However, those micro-tears can lead to infection in people with diabetes. Opt for scrubs with gentle exfoliants.
• Careful Filing – Filing the feet and nails must be done very gently as not to create cuts in the skin. Use a diabetic-friendly foot file and pay extra attention when shaping the nails. Any little cut could grow to be detrimental to a diabetic client.
• Know When It’s Out of Your Hands – If a diabetic client has an open wound, very strong odor, or otherwise extreme situation pertaining to their feet, do not perform the service and gently direct them to see their podiatrist. Require them to obtain a doctor’s note in order to receive future services. Knowing when it’s unsafe to perform a service will not only protect your client, but will also protect you from liability issues.

What products are available for use in diabetic pedicures?

Joy of Beauty products are diabetic-friendly and made with natural, gentle, and effective ingredients.

“There are products that diabetics should be conscious of,” says Johnson. “They’re always told to be conscious of the foods that they eat, but they should also be just as conscious of the products and ingredients they’re putting on their bodies.” Johnson’s experience with health-sensitive communities inspired her to create Joy of Beauty, a line of body care products for health-sensitive groups such as people with cancer, eczema, and sensitive skin. Each of these products is especially safe to use on diabetic clients because of the natural, gentle and effective ingredients used.

“Every ingredient is sourced with the mindset of ‘What’s the purpose? What problem am I trying to solve?’” Johnson explains.

Joy of Beauty’s hero product is the Poppyseed & Kokum Whipped Body Butter Scrub, which won second place in a pitch
competition at Cosmoprof North America this past July. Instead of using sharp and jagged grains of salt or sugar, this soothing scrub contains poppyseeds, which are smooth and round. The seeds provide effective exfoliation without creating micro-tears in the skin, making it truly diabetic-friendly. The scrub also provides much-needed hydration to dry skin.