How does diabetes affect my feet?
Diabetes refers to a group of chronic illnesses characterized by high blood sugar. When left untreated, diabetes increases your risk of serious health problems, especially those that affect your feet.
Some of the most common foot-related problems with diabetes include:
Diabetic neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy causes permanent nerve damage. The nerve damage provokes numbness and tingling in your feet, making it difficult to sense changes in temperature or injuries like cuts and puncture wounds.
If you’re unaware of an injury, the cut or blister can become infected, increasing your risk of infection, gangrene, or amputation. More than 50% of the amputations occurring in the United States are a direct result of diabetes.
Peripheral vascular disease
Over time, diabetes negatively affects your blood vessels and arteries. Specifically, peripheral vascular disease can cause the buildup of fatty deposits.
Fatty deposits prevent blood from circulating to your legs and feet, making it difficult for cuts, ulcers, or blisters to heal. Because your body’s healing response slows down, you’re more likely to experience an infection.
When should I see a doctor for diabetic foot care?
If you’re living with diabetes, it’s important to visit a podiatrist on a routine basis. Regular checkups can alert you to potentially serious problems when they’re easiest to treat -- even if your feet feel okay. Chronic conditions rarely present symptoms early on.
If you don’t have diabetes, but you experience symptoms like:
- Athlete’s foot or fungal infections
- Dry, cracked skin
- Temperature changes in your feet
- Foot or ankle swelling
Make an appointment with the team at Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates. Following a thorough exam, they can determine the underlying cause and develop a treatment plan that helps you feel better.
What types of treatment does diabetic foot care provide?
The team at Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates offers various diabetic foot care services.
Most people with diabetes benefit from non-surgical treatments like undergoing regular foot examinations, and wearing comfortable, padded shoes that lower the risk of cuts, lacerations, or blisters.
Should there be a complication such as a diabetic wound, the team is well equipped to manage this. They are trained in diabetic wound care and will follow you closely to make sure the wound heals uneventfully.
If you’re living with diabetes and want to protect your feet, request a diabetic foot care consultation at Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates Book an appointment online, or call the office today.
