Over time, one of the side effects of diabetes is something called neuropathy. This is a type of nerve damage that will cause loss of feeling in the feet. People who can't feel anything may be more likely to suffer from damage or injury without even knowing it. Often, this means that the injury is not noticed until it becomes infected and dangerous. Additionally, the neuropathy can cause changes to the feet and toes that require specialty physical therapy and therapeutic shoes.
Some of the most common complications of the feet for diabetics include the following:
Skin Conditions
Because you aren’t getting as much blood flow to your feet, this can lead to skin damage. Additionally, when nerves are damaged, the right amount of oil will not reach the skin, and this can lead to dryness and cracking. It’s important that you take extra care to keep your feet moisturized. Good options include unscented lotion or cream or petroleum jelly.
Corns and Calluses
People who have diabetes will be much more susceptible to corns and calluses because of poor circulation and lack of feeling. You may not realize you are putting too much pressure on one area, and that pressure will eventually lead to a callus. If you don't treat the callus properly, it could turn into a dangerous open sore. Always see a health care professional to have a corn or callus properly removed. To avoid the growth of them, use a pumice stone regularly to rub away any toughening areas of skin.
Ulcers (Open Sores)
Often, if you wear shoes that don't fit properly and you can't feel the pain of discomfort, you can end up with foot ulcers. These open sores may not even hurt, which means you may go for days without noticing them. Because of their placement on the foot, ulcers are extremely prone to infection. You need to see a professional to have the ulcer cleaned and any infected tissue removed. You may need to wear specialty shoes or boots to protect the foot until the ulcer heals properly. Keep in mind that since diabetics do have poor circulation in the feet, it could take much longer for the ulcer to heal than it would on a healthy person.
If you have any healed foot ulcers, you must take special care of the area because the scar tissue can be much more susceptible to further injury or to the open sores returning.
Loss of the Feet
If the diabetes is not properly managed, this could eventually lead to foot amputation. People who constantly have dangerous foot ulcers and infections may have no other choice. Infections can lead to serious complications if they get into the blood stream. The best way to avoid amputation is to properly manage blood glucose levels. Additionally, a diabetic should stop smoking as soon as possible. Smoking will decrease blood flow to small vessels, causing even poorer circulation in the feet. The vast majority of diabetic foot amputations are for diabetics who choose to smoke.
Living with diabetes means dealing with extra foot problems. This condition causes extremely poor circulation to the hands and feet and it also causes neuropathy. In order to avoid severe issues, a diabetic should always manage their condition as the doctor has ordered. Additionally, diabetics should take special care of their feet and do regular inspections for damage or injury.
Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news.
If you have foot or ankle pain, especially with diabetes, contact Dr. Jeffrey Bowman of Houston Foot Specialists for treatment. Don’t think you have to live with foot problems, you can contact us at 713-467-8886 or online, where you can even request an appointment, at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.
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