If you are a diabetic I cannot stress enough how important it is that you care for your feet. Recently my mining partner forgot his water boots and just used his regular shoes and continued to wear them, needless to say he developed Trench Foot or Jungle Rot, us Veterans know what that means. So when he first showed it to me I was in shock of how bad it was and spent over an hour pulling out sock debris, gravel, dirt, etc.... I got it cleaned and soaked it in betadine and started checking for Gangrene, even bare muscle was exposed. The smell was cheesy but he didn't have the gas under the skin yet. I got him into the VA in Grand Junction (Which is the best in the US) and the doctor trimmed off the dead hanging skin and gave him an anti biotic. Twice a day I would clean his foot with betadine, wrap it with gauze so it could stay dry, and it is beginning to heal. My actions saved his foot and leg, but he still may lose a toe or two.

I busted my knee open which sent me home, but a taught him how to clean it, how to wrap it, and how to keep it dry and elevated. The river water is full of bacteria and if you get water in your suit the best was to clean up is to use Hibiclens with a wash rag and was down with it, it prevents the red spots and bumps from coming up and if you have an open wound take time to make sure it does not get exposed to the water.

It should not beneath anybody to clean another mans feet, and especially if it means saving life, limb, or eyesight. Had we had access to leaches I would have placed them on his toes to draw out the infection and create new blood supply.  If he keeps doing what I told him to do he will not lose anything, but if you are diabetic please keep your feet dry and out of bacteria filled river water.