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Diabetes causes a condition of painful nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy can affect your entire body, but most often the legs and feet are the body's most prone areas to serious health problems. Damage to the nerves can cause the loss of feeling in your feet, making it difficult to detect extreme temperatures and pain as easily or readily as someone who does not have diabetes. This is why diabetics get infections so frequently from something as simple as a small cut or blister on the foot. When a person is unable to detect a foot wound it can easily become infected, leading to more serious complications and even amputation in the most severe cases. Understanding the connection between foot care and diabetes is important to avoid more serious health problems. If you are diabetic, talk to your podiatrist in Sycamore about the best ways to care for your feet. Inspect Your Feet Regularly If you have diabetes, it's crucial to examine your feet every day and after every injury, regardless of how minor you may think the injury is. If you notice redness, swelling, persistent pain, numbness, tingling or any other unusual signs on any part of your foot, call your podiatrist in Sycamore immediately as this could signify serious health problems. It's also recommended that people with diabetes see a podiatrist for annual checkups. A professional podiatrist in Sycamore can detect signs of changes, broken skin or ulcers that can be detrimental to the health of your feet and body. He can also check your blood circulation, identify loss of sensation or detect areas of high pressure- all of which require professional medical attention. Small Foot Problems Can Lead to Bigger Problems If you have diabetes, even the smallest foot problems such as a cut, can turn into more serious complications. Some of these small complications include: * Ulcers that don't heal
* Corns
* Calluses
* Cracked heels
* Hammertoes
* Bunions
* Ingrown toenails With these complications, you run the risk of developing diabetic peripheral neuropathy, which is a condition that develops slowly and worsens over time, and Charcot foot, which is a condition in which the bones of the foot are weakened enough to fracture. Taking extra precautions and caring for even the smallest problem can save your foot. Keep Your Feet Healthy with Proper Foot Hygiene Everyone needs to practice good foot hygiene daily, but people with diabetes should pay extra attention to keeping their feet clean in order to prevent health problems.
If you have diabetes: * Wash your feet daily with lukewarm water and mild soap, making sure to dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes.
* Keep the skin on your feet smooth and soft by applying a non-irritating moisturizer, avoiding the areas between the toes. Doing so can help prevent cracks and sores that lead to infection.
* Avoid ingrown toenails than can get infected by keeping them neatly trimmed straight across.
* Wear clean, dry socks and change them every day.
* Avoid walking barefoot to protect feet from harmful foreign particles.
* Never attempt to remove corns, calluses or other sores from your feet on your own. See a podiatrist for safe and pain free removal. Early detection, simple care and regular inspections can go a long way to avoid serious foot complications related to diabetes. Diabetes is serious, especially when it comes to your feet. If you have diabetes, talk with your podiatrist in Sycamore about what you can do now to keep your feet safe, strong, and healthy.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading Sycamore, Hinsdale, Buffalo Grove, Libertyville and DeKalb podiatrists, Dr. Dr. Neil Levin and Dr. Steven Sharlin. Offering services in orthotics, ingrown toenails, bunions, heel pain and an array of other services, these podiatrists in DeKalb, IL, are committed to providing patients with the best in quality foot and ankle health care.
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