Unfortunately, foot problems are often a common result of having diabetes. As time goes by, it’s likely that diabetes can cause nerve damage, also known as diabetic neuropathy. This can lead to tingling or a painful sensation, and it may also cause you to lose feeling in your feet. The loss of feeling in your feet can become incredibly dangerous, especially if you can longer sense a blister or cut on your foot; this can lead to sores or infections.

There are many ways to maintain healthy foot care when dealing with diabetes. Most importantly, you want to ensure that you’re managing your blood glucose levels, otherwise known as your blood sugar. You also want to ensure that you’re checking your feet daily. As mentioned before, it’s important to recognize if your feet have cuts, sores, blisters, plantar warts, ingrown toenails, or other troubling foot conditions to stay ahead of the issue and prevent yourself from further harm. Along with foot checks, you should also wash and dry your feet daily using lukewarm water. It may also be useful in certain cases to moisturize your feet a few times a week, especially if you’re prone to dryness. Please be advised, however, to avoid moisturizing between the toes as they will not dry properly. Another rule you may want to follow is to ensure you’re cutting your toenails straight across. You should also refrain from digging into the sides of the toes; this will help prevent the development of an ingrown toenail. If you do happen to develop a corn or callus, never treat them yourself; seek the help of a professional. It may also be beneficial to look into socks made specifically for those with diabetes to help provide yourself with extra cushion. You may also want to refrain from walking barefoot, as well as avoid smoking, as it restricts the blood flow to your feet.

In certain serious cases, you may notice a cut, blister, or bruise is not healing after a few days. If this occurs, it’s important to seek the help of a professional. Other warning signs include redness, swelling, a callus with dried blood inside of it, or an infection that causes discoloration of the foot and an odor.

If you’d like more information on how to maintain healthy feet while living with diabetes, seek the assistance of a podiatrist who can provide you with the tips needed for healthy foot care.

Diabetes is not just a problem controlling blood sugar, diabetes can also have an effect on nearly all parts of the body. Continued high levels of blood sugar can cause permanent damage to everything from small blood vessels (diabetic angiopathy), nerves (peripheral neuropathy), and even the sweat glands of the skin (autonomic neuropathy). Uncontrolled diabetes greatly reduces your ability to fight off infections and makes even healing small wounds more difficult. These complications of diabetes, when accompanied by bunions and hammertoes, neuropathy, or problems with blood flow can result in infected, non-healing wounds (ulcers). Unfortunately, these ulcers often occur on the feet and decrease standard of living. Our team will stay in close communication with your primary care physician to better manage your diabetes, be it your 3 month check-up, or more frequent visits for wound care. We offer all forms of diabetic management such as custom diabetic shoes, specialist vascular evaluation, therapeutic lotions and ointments, and even advanced collagen products and skin grafting to accelerate wound healing. Whether your diabetic concerns are big or small, we will be with you every step of the way.

Call Comprehensive Foot & Ankle Center for bunion treatment Collegeville patients depend on. Our office is located in Collegeville, convenient to Trappe, Royersford, Blue Bell, Skippack, Norristown, Philadelphia, and Phoenixville.

Call us today for an appointment! 610-409-0800