Diabetes causes changes not only to your blood but also to your entire body. Without proper control of your blood sugar levels, complications will occur, possibly affecting your feet. They may develop swelling, blisters, or sores that will require a surgeon to solve. If you have diabetes, there are precautions you can take to ensure your feet remain healthy.

What Relationship Does Diabetes Have With Your Feet?

How Can Diabetes Affect Your Feet?

Nerve damage can cause diabetic neuropathy. Its symptoms include pain, tingling, and numbness in the feet. The numbness can develop in such a way that you won’t be able to feel the development of possible ulcers, cuts, and sores. If left untreated, it can cause infections that are treatable by surgeons.

Some people with diabetes experience peripheral vascular disease. It causes reduced blood flow to the extremities. Without healthy blood flow, wounds and infections will not heal quickly, leading to more complicated illnesses.

Athlete’s foot is also common for people with diabetes. It’s a fungal condition that develops through cracks in the skin. The infection is known to cause itchy and irritated skin. Speak to your doctor about antifungal medications and topical creams to treat the ailment.

How Can It Be Prevented?

Having no pain in your foot doesn’t mean that diabetes isn’t affecting it. Check your bare feet at the end of each day, including in between your toes. Look for cuts and sores, along with ingrown toenails, warm spots, and signs of athlete’s foot.

Check for warm spots on your feet, which could indicate the forming of an ulcer or a blister.

Wash your feet every day, but in warm water rather than hot. After washing, use talcum powder or cornstarch to keep your feet and toes dry and less prone to infection.

As a person with diabetes, you may be prone to calluses and corns. If they cause nerve damage, ulcers will form. Speak with a doctor or surgeon on the best way to treat these skin conditions.

They may suggest a pumice stone to smooth out the growths. They’re used after bathing and should be rubbed gently and in one direction to avoid damaging the skin.

If you’ve noticed wounds or ulcers on your feet, reach out to Lincoln Surgical Group, P.C. With over 90 years of experience, their staff is always prepared to provide the treatment that suits your condition, including preventative and diagnostic assistance. If your condition has advanced, their surgeons offer comprehensive and compassionate care. If you’re in the Lincoln, NE, area, make an appointment with them at (402) 483-7825. For more information on the services they provide, including wound care and vascular surgery, visit their website.