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Diabetic foot care is a crucial part of managing diabetes, as the neuropathy associated with it often affects feet and legs. Knowing what issues this can cause and how to detect them can prevent major complications. Below is a brief overview of diabetic foot care that you should know.

A Guide to Diabetic Neuropathy & Why It’s Crucial to Inspect Your Feet

A common complication of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage caused by high glucose levels. It most often occurs in your legs and feet, causing pain, tingling, and loss of sensation. Diabetes can also restrict your circulation to your limbs, leading to slow healing and contributing to the numbness caused by neuropathy. These symptoms combined put your feet at risk for severe injuries and infections. 

These symptoms are why it’s critical to inspect your feet each day. If you don’t have sensation in them, you won’t notice a cut, blister, or sore because you won’t feel any foot pain. Because of the slow healing and near-constant friction your feet undergo, minor injuries can fester, worsen, and become infected quickly. Without treatment, infections can lead to amputation of your toe, foot, or leg.

What to Watch For

Any changes in the appearance or feeling of your feet should be a red flag. Ingrown toenails, fungal infections, ulcers, sores, blisters, cuts, and abnormalities should be reported to your podiatrist or physician immediately. They may ask you to come in or to monitor the issue.

If they don’t heal or begin to look infected, you’ll need to go in for treatment. You should inspect each foot each day without exception. Infections can spread quickly, and time can make all the difference.

How to Care for Your Feet

diabetic foot careBeyond your general routine of diet, exercise, and medication, you’ll need to develop a thorough diabetic foot care program. Take precautions to prevent skin irritation and injury, such as by wearing boots in inclement weather, making sure no foreign objects are in your shoes before wearing them, and never going barefoot, even at home.

Minimize infection risk by washing your feet every day in warm water, and moisturize them afterward—but not between the toes. Keep your toenails trimmed to prevent ingrown nails, and avoid using chemical treatments for warts and calluses. Don’t forget to inspect your feet every day, and use socks, not heating pads or water bottles, to keep your feet warm.


Another crucial part of diabetic foot care is seeing reliable podiatrists. Eastern CT Foot Specialists in Norwich and North Windham, CT, has over 25 years’ experience in maintaining the health of diabetic feet, including treating foot pain, infections, and wounds. Their local specialists provide comprehensive, custom care in a state-of-the-art office. Learn more about their treatments online. For an appointment, call the North Windham office at (860) 456-9593 or Norwich at (860) 887-3538.

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