Now accepting Telehealth appointments. Schedule a virtual visit.
Skip to main content

Why Diabetics Should Take Extra Care of Their Feet

Why Diabetics Should Take Extra Care of Their Feet

Your feet are an important aspect of your daily activities. When you have diabetes, you need to take extra precautions to keep your feet safe and healthy. This condition causes issues with feeling in your feet, which could cause blisters or ulcers to form without you knowing it.

At Beltsville Foot and Ankle Center, our team takes your foot health seriously, especially when you’re diabetic. Dr. David Deiboldt is our podiatry specialist who offers a variety of treatments when you’re having problems with your feet. He also provides tips on how to care for your feet as a diabetic.

How diabetes affects your feet

Diabetes is a condition that affects how your body uses insulin, or how your pancreas produces insulin to control your glucose. Type 1 diabetes happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, and type 2 diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t use insulin correctly.

High levels of glucose in your blood wreaks havoc on your body. Continuous high levels of glucose in your blood damages your blood vessels and nerves in your legs and feet.

One of the ways diabetes affects your body is through neuropathy. The nerve damage brought on by neuropathy makes it hard to feel sensations in your feet. It also leads to numbness, tingling, and shooting pain. 

Neuropathy significantly affects the health of your feet because you can’t always feel when you get a cut or blister. If you don’t know it’s there, these issues may cause an infection. Without good blood flow from damaged vessels, the infection won’t heal.

In severe cases of infections or diabetic ulcers, other tissues may become involved, including your bone or muscle. When this happens, you could end up needing an amputation. However, this can be avoided with vigorous care of your feet.

Complications of diabetic foot

There are a lot of complications of diabetes, especially when it comes to your feet. If you’re not careful, you could suffer from any of the following outcomes of diabetic neuropathy:

Dry skin

The nerve damage from diabetic neuropathy makes your skin dry. Your skin may end up cracking or splitting, which you might not be able to feel. 

Calluses

When you have diabetes, calluses are very common. They happen due to pressure on certain areas of your feet. If calluses go untreated, they break down, sometimes turning into diabetic ulcers. 

Poor circulation

Neuropathy causes the blood vessels in your legs and feet to shrink, affecting the circulation to this area. Poor blood flow makes it difficult for your body to heal infections or ulcers that form on your feet due to diabetes.

Diabetic ulcers

Ulcers typically form on areas of pressure, like the ball of your foot. Sometimes ulcers don’t hurt, but you should still have them evaluated by Dr. Deiboldt. Untreated ulcers may become infected, and lead to long-term issues.

How to properly care for your feet

When you have diabetes, taking care of your feet is essential. If you don’t properly tend to your feet, it leads to dangerous consequences.

Dr. Deiboldt and his team help you understand the proper techniques for looking after your feet. Some of the tips he recommends for diabetic feet include:

The most important aspect of caring for your feet is knowing when to get help. If you notice any issues with your feet, make sure to contact our office right away. It doesn’t take long for an ulcer to turn into an infection, which could be treated early on.

If you’re diabetic, your foot health matters. To learn more about how to care for your feet, call our office in Beltsville, Maryland at 301-804-1174, or book a consultation online today.

You Might Also Enjoy...

Does Hammertoe Require Surgery?

Hammertoes are sometimes a painful condition that makes walking and even wearing shoes difficult – but do you need surgery? Keep reading to learn more about hammertoes and when you may need surgery to fix them.
Treating Gout with Your Diet

Treating Gout with Your Diet

Living with gout can be tricky, especially when you have flares and painful big toes – but relief is possible through lifestyle changes. Keep reading to learn how to tame gout symptoms through your diet and where to start.
Do I Need to Wear a Cast For an Ankle Sprain?

Do I Need to Wear a Cast For an Ankle Sprain?

If you have an ankle sprain, treatment is often necessary, but do you have to wear a cast? Keep reading to discover more about sprained ankles and if you need an immobilization device to heal appropriately.
How is Toenail Fungus Treated?

How is Toenail Fungus Treated?

Toenail fungus is a bothersome problem that leads to thick, yellow nails; the real downer is it's very contagious. Keep reading to learn more about toenail fungus and what treatments to expect to eliminate the problem.

How Are Custom Orthotics Made?

Custom orthotics are a personalized treatment for people with foot, ankle, or leg pain from various conditions, but how do we make them? Read on to discover how custom orthotics work for long-term pain relief.