People with diabetes are very vulnerable to developing foot related problems. People who suffer from diabetes can have problems with circulation, nerves, immunity, and deformity.  One in five people with diabetes who seek hospital care do so for foot problems. By taking proper care of your feet, many serious health problems associated with diabetes can be prevented.

 

Occasionally one or more of these may exist as an isolated issue but often people suffer from more than one at the same time.

• Circulation: People with circulation problems don’t have as much oxygenated blood supplying their feet as other individuals and therefore have difficulty healing any wounds.

• Nerves: Those who have nerve problems can develop a blister and often times not even know it is there until they take off their shoes.

• Immunity: Some individuals with diabetes have a diminished response of their immune system. Because of this, they can get an infection from a cut or blister more easily and have more difficulty treating it.

• Deformity: People who suffer from diabetes can have collapse of the arch of their foot or other deformities which makes the foot more difficult to place into off-the-shelf shoes because of the risk of blisters developing over areas of high pressure.

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How can you care for yourself at home?

• Keep your blood sugar close to normal

• Do not smoke

• Eat a diet that is low in fats.

• Inspect your feet daily for blisters, cuts, cracks, or sores.

• Wash your feet every day.

• Dry your feet well.

• Keep your skin soft.

• Clean underneath your toenails carefully.

• It is not recommended for diabetic patients to cut their toe nails.

• Change socks daily

• Look inside your shoes every day.

• Buy shoes that fit well

• Break in new shoes slowly

• Do not go barefoot. Do not wear sandals.

• Have your doctor check your feet during each visit.

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Always get early treatment for foot problems. A minor irritation can lead to a major problem if not properly cared for early.

 

When should you call for help?

• You have a foot sore, an ulcer or break in the skin that is not healing after 4 days, bleeding corns or calluses, or an ingrown toenail.

• You have blue or black areas, which can mean bruising or blood flow problems.

• You have peeling skin or tiny blisters between your toes or cracking or oozing of the skin.

• You have a fever for more than 24 hours and a foot sore.

• You have new numbness or tingling in your feet that does not go away after you move your feet or change positions.

• You have unexplained or unusual swelling of the foot or ankle.

• You cannot do proper foot care.

 

 

Diabetic neuropathy

 

When you have diabetes, your feet need extra care and attention due to complications such as diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes can damage the nerve endings and blood vessels in your feet preventing you from noticing when your feet are injured. Diabetes also limits your body's ability to fight infection and get blood to areas that need it. If you get a minor foot injury, it could become an ulcer or a serious infection. With good foot care, you can prevent most of these problems.

 

Diabetic neuropathy can be very uncomfortable for many patients. There are many ways to manage the symptoms and prevent them from becoming worse. Consulting with a foot and ankle specialist can help treat Diabetic Neuropathy.

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