Diabetic Foot Care

What is diabetic foot care?

People with diabetes require specialized foot care because their condition can cause several complications affecting the feet. The high blood sugar levels present when you have diabetes damage the nerves and blood vessels throughout your body, particularly in the feet.

Nerve damage causes loss of feeling in your feet (diabetic peripheral neuropathy). Blood vessels are also affected so that they can’t deliver enough blood for a healthy supply of healing cells, oxygen, and nutrients.

Injured skin and other tissues weakened by disease heal slowly and are vulnerable to infection. This leads to diabetic ulcers developing — open, weeping sores that penetrate deep into the flesh. These wounds are likely to become infected, causing tissue death. Without expert treatment, infected diabetic ulcers can turn gangrenous, often resulting in amputation.

Diabetic foot care is, therefore, vital for anyone with diabetes. It prevents ulcers from developing and provides expert treatment for any ulcers that form.

How do I care for diabetic feet?

Diabetic foot care begins with prevention. Healthy habits, including frequently exercising, eating a nutritious diet, and quitting smoking, improve blood flow to your feet. These measures are also necessary to manage diabetes successfully. Your primary care provider and/or foot doctor ensures that you know how to lead a healthy life.

You can help with prevention by checking your feet regularly for wounds or signs of conditions like athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, and ingrown toenails. These can all increase your risk of diabetic ulcers. If you experience numbness, always wear socks and shoes to protect your feet.

Ensure that your footwear is comfortable and fits well so that you don’t get blisters or encourage ingrown toenails. Wash your feet daily and dry them thoroughly. Apply moisturizing lotion to prevent dry skin. Treat cuts and sores immediately and reduce infection risk by avoiding using others’ shoes and socks or walking barefoot in public places.

What diabetic foot care might I require?

The Kyrou Podiatry Associates team provides complete diabetic foot care. You see your foot doctor regularly for a foot exam, where they check for damage or poor foot health.

Your doctor also trims your toenails and treats common conditions like corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, and toenail fungus that can increase your infection risk.

If they identify the early stages of a foot problem, they treat it quickly to prevent it from worsening.

Call Kyrou Podiatry Associates or request an appointment online today to arrange your diabetic foot care consultation.