Putting your Best Foot Forward: Managing your Feet with Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which an individual has a high blood sugar level as a result of the body either not producing enough insulin or because certain body cells do not properly respond to the insulin that is produced. There are several types of diabetes – Type 1 (failure of the body to produce insulin), Type 2 (insulin resistance), and gestational diabetes (having a high blood glucose level consistently during pregnancy). The classical symptoms of diabetes are polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (frequent thirst), and polyphagia (increased hunger).

The reason why diabetes factors in so greatly to the field of podiatry is that there can be many complications that take a toll on the feet. In general, foot problems tend to happen when there is nerve damage, called neuropathy, which results in a loss of feeling in your feet. Neuropathy basically means that your ability to feel pain, heat, or cold lessens. This can be a potentially dangerous issue, because you might not be able to feel an injury to your foot, which could lead to eventual break down of the foot and infection. In addition, neuropathy over time can lead to foot deformity and changes in the structure of your feet.

Another factor that can become affected due to diabetes is the skin of the feet. Over time, your feet may start to dry out, as well as peel and crack. In addition, individuals with diabetes may notice that calluses on their feet are building up at a much faster rate over time. This is due to the increased areas of pressure under the foot. It’s essential to keep an eye on these calluses, keep them trimmed (best by a podiatric professional), and prevent them from opening up to ulcers.

A final – and not so happy – foot complication of diabetes is foot ulcers. Ulcers tend to occur on the underside of the foot – again, where pressures tend to build up. It’s essential that your podiatrist see any developing ulcers that you notice as soon as possible. It’s important to stay off of any ulcer sites as much as possible to encourage healing. As a main component to treatment, good diabetes control is key! Make sure to keep blood sugar levels where they need to be.

If you are diabetic and need to find a podiatric health care provider for your foot care needs, please contact Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc. in Mentor, Ohio.