Diabetes patients frequently experience foot difficulties. You may be concerned that you will lose a toe, foot, or leg as a result of diabetes, or that you know someone who has, but you can reduce your chances of experiencing diabetes-related foot problems by taking care of your feet on a daily basis. Managing your blood glucose levels can also aid in the health of your feet.
Diabetes can cause nerve damage, commonly known as diabetic neuropathy, which can cause tingling and pain and cause you to lose feeling in your feet over time. When you lose feeling in your feet, you may not notice a rock in your sock or a blister on your foot, which can result in cuts and sores. Cuts and sores have the potential to become infected.
Important Points to Remember
Diabetic foot problems manifest as symptoms and signs due to diminished feeling produced by nerve damage, as well as a lack of oxygen delivery to the feet caused by vascular disease.
The increased incidence of foot problems in diabetics is caused by two major conditions: peripheral artery disease (PAD) and peripheral neuropathy.
Bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, fungal infections, skin dryness, and ingrown toenails are all examples of diabetic foot problems. These issues are not unique to diabetes, but they may occur more frequently as a result of nerve and vascular damage produced by diabetes.
Treatment is determined by the specific type of foot disease. In some circumstances, surgery or even amputation may be required.
Gangrene (dry gangrene) is the death of tissue due to a lack of blood circulation. If bacterial infection develops, it can be fatal (wet gangrene).
Many diabetes-related foot problems can be avoided if blood sugar levels are kept under control and feet are properly cared for.
How Does Diabetes Affect Your Feet
Diabetes can also cause a decrease in blood flow to your feet. A lack of blood flow to your legs and feet might make it difficult for a sore or infection to heal. Bad infection does not always recover. Gangrene could result from the infection.
Gangrene and foot ulcers that do not improve with treatment may necessitate the amputation of a toe, foot, or part of your leg. An amputation may be performed by a surgeon to prevent a dangerous infection from spreading to the rest of your body and to save your life. Foot care is critical for avoiding dangerous infections and gangrene.
Tips for Taking Care of Your Feet
- Regularly check your feet.
- Wash your feet regularly.
- Gently smooth corns and calluses.
- Trim your toenails.
- Always wear shoes and socks.
- Keep your feet safe from hot and cold.
- Maintain blood flow to your feet.
- Ask the doctor to examine your feet.
Create a diabetic self-care plan with your health care team, which is an action plan for how you will manage your diabetes. Foot care should be part of your strategy. Your health care team may include a foot doctor, generally known as a podiatrist, and other specialists.
What are the signs of diabetic foot problems?
- Calluses and corns can form as a result of improper foot alignment or motion.
- Fungal infections of the nails can manifest as thickened, discolored, and brittle nails.
- Tinea pedis, sometimes known as athlete’s foot, is a fungus that infects the skin of the feet.
- Hammertoes are bent toes caused by a lack of muscle strength.
- Bunions are caused by the big toe angling toward the second toe. The bunion region may become inflamed and irritating, resulting in callus production.
- Toenail encrustation
- Cracking of the skin on the feet, particularly the heels, as a result of dry skin
You may have foot problems yet are not experiencing foot pain. Checking your feet every day will allow you to detect problems early on before they worsen. Checking your feet each evening when you take off your shoes is a wonderful method to remember. Check between your toes as well. If you have problems bending over to see your feet, try using a mirror or asking someone else to look at them for you.
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