Understanding the Importance of Healthy Feet for People with Diabetes
When you have diabetes, healthy feet matter more than ever. High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage and poor circulation, making the feet vulnerable to various problems that threaten mobility if left unchecked. Being able to recognize signs of diabetic foot complications early allows promptly seeking care to avoid severity.
How Diabetes Impacts Feet
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to issues like:
- Nerve damage (neuropathy) - Reduces feeling in feet
- Poor circulation - Inhibits wound healing
- Foot deformities - Alters weight distribution
- Dry, cracked skin - Provides infection entry point
These diabetes-related foot changes significantly increase susceptibility to injury, ulcers, infections, and amputation when combined with factors like ill-fitting shoes, walking abnormalities, or foreign objects in shoes causing irritation.
Importance of Daily Foot Checks
Catching any foot problems early better allows for prompt treatment to prevent worsening. People with diabetes should check their feet daily for any signs of issues and call health providers about anything concerning. Some encouraging signs and symptoms to look for include:
Common Diabetic Foot Problems in Pictures
Blisters
Fluid filling between layers of skin causes painful blisters, appearing like bubbles on feet. Causes include heat, moisture, and friction from poorly fitting or broken in shoes. Blisters prone to infection warrant medical care.
Calluses
Thick, hardened layers of skin form as protective padding in areas of frequent pressure and friction. Calluses feel dry and tough. Trim with care to avoid skin injury allowing infection entry.
Corns
Tough, cone-shaped deposits of keratin arise between toes or on tops of toes from pressure, rubbing, or skin folding due to joint abnormalities. Corns painful to walk on may require padding or orthotics.
Dry, Cracked Skin
With diabetes, dryness and cracking often results from peripheral vascular disease reducing blood flow and neuropathy causing inadequate foot sweat. Fissures provide infection access, needing moisturizing and vigilance.
Fungal Infections
Athlete’s foot and fungal toenail infections thrive in the moist environment shoes create. Signs are redness, itching, stinging between the toes or under nails. Topical and oral antifungals treat infections.
Hammertoes
Toes appearing claw-like and bent result from muscle/tendon imbalance forcing toes to curl downward. Padded toe sleeves help straighten; surgery for severe cases relieves pain from rubbing against shoes.
Heel Fissures
Cracks (fissures) in the thick heel skin arise from peripheral neuropathy’s dryness and pressure while walking. Clean dirt from cracks daily; use moisturizers and shoe inserts to protect.
Ingrown Toenails
Toenails growing into nearby skin get infected easily in people with diabetes. Signs are redness, swelling, bleeding around and under nails. Seek podiatric care for partial nail removal.
Preventing Serious Diabetic Foot Complications
While the above represent common nuisance foot problems diabetics face, more severe threats requiring emergency care also exist. Two main serious complications are:
Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Ulcers are open sores or wounds, usually on bottom of feet. Causes include irritating shoes/socks, foreign objects in shoes, injuries, poor circulation, and neuropathy. Infection can penetrate deep tissue and bone.
Diabetic Foot Infections
Bacteria thrive in wounds on feet with poor blood flow and immunity. Signs are redness, swelling, foul odors, warmth, discharge, and pain around wounds or ulcers. IV antibiotics and surgical drainage treat severe infections.
Warning Signs of Potential Amputation Risk
Left untreated, serious diabetic foot complications can necessitate partial or full foot amputations. Seek emergency care for:
- Intense pain in feet
- Major wounds not quickly healing
- Significant redness/swelling in feet
- New numbness, burning, or tingling in feet
- Fever above 100°F - 102°F
- Sudden inability to walk due to foot pain
- Noticeable smell from drainage of sores/wounds
Catching diabetic foot problems early and taking good preventative care day-to-day lowers risks of losing a limb. Positive health behaviors like managing blood sugars, good hygiene/moisturizing, wearing clean, well-fitted shoes, and exercising boost foot health.
When to See a Podiatrist
Consulting foot health specialists called podiatrists benefits those with diabetes at higher risk of complications. See one annually and whenever concerned about things like wounds, pain, deformities, discoloration, numbness, or other signs something’s not right.
Tips for Optimal Diabetic Foot Health
You can greatly reduce likelihoods of serious diabetic foot disease by implementing good preventative care through these practical tips:
Monitor Blood Sugars
Work closely with your doctor to keep HbA1c levels under 7% through properly dosing/timing insulin injections and diabetes meds for your body and lifestyle. This protects nerve/tissue function.
Inspect Feet Daily
Make checking feet part of your daily routine. Use a magnifying hand mirror to examine all angles, feeling carefully for hot spots or tender areas suggesting irritation or injury underneath calluses.
Wash Feet Daily
Cleanse feet in lukewarm water using a mild soap, gently drying between toes well afterward. Be very careful scrubbing callused areas to avoid harming skin. Moisturize calluses to keep pliable.
Trim Toenails Straight Across Carefully
Cut nails just after bathing when softened but be sure to cut straight across to avoid ingrown toenails over time. File any sharp edges smooth. Never dig tools under nails.
Wear Good Diabetic Shoes
Well-fitted, all-leather or canvas shoes with removable inserts are best. Ensure adequate toe box room and break shoes in gradually to prevent blisters. Rotate pairs daily.
Use Clean Socks/Stockings
Choose seamless, size appropriate synthetic or thin cotton socks changed daily to avoid pressure issues. Avoid irritating fibers and fabric dyes. Knee high options prevent skin rubbing.
Get Recommended Foot Care
See podiatrists, orthotists, pedorthists, or chiropodists annually or whenever issues arise for needed treatment, orthotics, specialty shoes, and other support.
Exercise Moderately
Regular, non-weightbearing exercises like swimming, biking, or water aerobics avoid foot strain while increasing circulation essential for healing. Check feet pre/post workouts.
Caring properly for your feet plays a vital role in managing diabetes and sustaining active living. Being watchful day-to-day prevents minor problems from becoming major health complications requiring hospitalization or surgery down the road.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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