Diabetic Foot Care

How does diabetes affect the foot?

Diabetes is a blood glucose disorder that affects your body's ability to properly utilize glucose, or sugar, an energy source from food. Diabetes can affect your foot, leading to complications in the extremity such as:

• Infections
• A loss of feeling
• Small blisters and wounds
• Weakened immune system
• Impaired sweat and oil production
• Hardened and narrowed blood vessels
• Decreased blood flow and slower healing

If left untreated, severe cases of diabetes can lead to gangrene, amputation, and become life-threatening.

How can I prevent diabetic foot complications?

Working with a physician specializing in diabetic foot care can help prevent diabetic foot complications and improve your foot health. The team at Heart Vascular and Leg Center emphasizes a healthy lifestyle with a nutrient-rich diet and regular exercise. 

To prevent complications and take care of your feet at home, pay attention to them every day, and inspect them by:

• Using moisturizers to soothe dry skin
• Examining the soles of your feet with a mirror
• Washing your feet with warm water and mild soap
• Looking for puncture wounds, redness, ingrown toenails, calluses, cuts, dry skin, bruises, and corns

You should also look out for athlete’s foot, a contagious fungal infection, as well as bunions, hammertoes, and plantar warts, which are small bumps on the soles of your feet.

Avoid walking barefoot and soaking your feet for too long in water as it can dry out your skin. Trim your toenails straight across and file your nails frequently.

For footwear that fits comfortably and properly, athletic and walking shoes are a good choice. Make sure your socks are padded, clean, and dry, and be sure to avoid any shoes that are made of vinyl or plastic or that have high heels and pointed toes.

What are the benefits of diabetic foot care?

The team at Heart Vascular and Leg Center provides diagnostic imaging such as X-rays and conducts physical examinations. Diabetic foot care offers many benefits. Your provider recommends the appropriate antibiotics for an infection and other effective treatment options, such as:

• Nail trimming
• Diabetic socks
• Custom orthotics
• Glucose monitoring
• Compression stockings
• Special casts and braces
• Specialized diabetic shoes
• Smoothing corns or calluses
• Anti-inflammatory medications

If necessary, your physician can surgically remove damaged, dead, or infected tissue.

For the highest standard of preventive diabetic foot care that prevents serious complications from developing, call Heart Vascular and Leg Center, or book online today.