How Can Diabetes Affect Your Feet?
At Cherrywood Foot Care, our specialists understand the importance of treating and maintaining diabetic feet. Our board-certified podiatrists can spot time-sensitive diabetic foot problems and address them accordingly. Continue reading to learn more about how diabetes can affect your feet and how our team can help.
How Can Diabetes Affect Your Feet?
Diabetes is a prevalent group of diseases in which the body does not properly use insulin, doesn’t produce any or enough insulin, or a combination of both. Diabetes can affect your foot health, and uncontrolled high blood sugar can lead to severe and long-term foot complications. Here are some of the ways that diabetes can affect your feet:
- Skin Problems – Diabetes can lead to dry, cracked feet and heals, potentially leading to ulcers. These foot ulcers can be difficult to heal and may become infected. Skin discoloration can cause irritation and itching.
- Toenail Problems – Patients with uncontrolled diabetes may develop thick fungal toenails that make it challenging to wear shoes.
- Poor Circulation – If an infection is not healing due to poor circulation, you are at risk of developing ulcers or gangrene, potentially leading to amputation. Poor circulation can also cause cramping pain in the legs, making walking difficult.
- Diabetic Neuropathy – If you have damaged nerves in your feet from diabetic neuropathy, you can lose sensation. The nerves to the muscles in your feet can also become damaged, causing your foot not to align properly. This misalignment creates excessive pressure on one part of the foot and can lead to foot deformities like Charcot’s foot.
Our doctors at Cherrywood Foot Care will provide a thorough evaluation of your feet and determine the best treatment plan for your diabetic foot concerns. Treatment may entail conservative measures like custom orthotics, diabetic wound care, and debridement of toenails. In cases of foot deformities, surgery may be necessary to ensure the condition does not worsen and create further complications.
Contact Us
If you are living with diabetes, it’s essential to prioritize your foot health. If you have questions regarding diabetic foot care or require treatment, be sure to contact Cherrywood Foot Care today!