Diabetes is a serious disease. Almost 1 billion people live with it worldwide. It can impact foot health and make daily foot care essential to manage the condition. High blood sugar levels can result in nerve damage and poor circulation. This increases the risk of infections, ulcers, and other serious complications.
Diabetic foot care helps prevent these issues and ensures long-term mobility and comfort. Foot care should be a crucial part of your life when you deal with diabetes and can help you avoid serious complications that could occur otherwise.
Why Diabetic Foot Care is Essential for Preventing Complications
It is crucial to take care of your feet when you have diabetes. Diabetic foot ulcer affects about 18.6 million people worldwide. Diabetic nerve damage can reduce your ability to feel sensations like pain, heat, and cold. This means that you may not realize that you have a foot injury, like a cut, until it gets infected.
Nerve damage can cause the shape of your feet and toes to change, making regular shoes uncomfortable and damaging to your feet.
Diabetes also causes blood vessels to become narrow and hard. This results in poor circulation, which is another culprit when it comes to foot complications. Poor circulation makes it difficult for your foot to fight infection and heal.
Small cuts and ulcers can lead to infections that result in the loss of a limb. There are some things you can do to protect your feet. Follow these tips to help prevent injury and reduce the risk of developing foot problems that can occur when you live with diabetes and neuropathy.
Understanding Diabetic Foot Complications
Too much glucose in your blood for a long time can cause serious complications when you have diabetes. This includes foot problems. Diabetic foot symptoms can lead to the amputation of a toe, the foot, or part of the leg.
Know what issues to look for and how to take care of your feet to avoid serious complications. Manage your diabetes to prevent problems with your feet.
Peripheral Neuropathy and Loss of Sensation
Uncontrolled diabetes can damage your nerves. If you have damaged nerves in your legs and feet, then you may not feel any pain, cold, or heat there.
This loss of sensation is called sensory diabetic neuropathy. If you do not feel a cut or sore on your foot for neuropathy, then the cut could get worse and become infected.
The muscles of your foot may not work properly as the nerves are damaged. It can cause problems with your foot alignment and create too much pressure on a part of your foot.
Poor Circulation and Wound Healing Issues
Diabetes also affects the blood flow. It takes longer for a sore or cut to heal without good blood flow. This is called peripheral vascular disease.
If you have an infection that will not heal because of poor blood flow, then you are at risk of developing ulcers or gangrene.
Foot Ulcers and Risk of Amputation
These are some of the most common types of diabetic foot pain for diabetic people. About 25% of people with diabetes experience a foot or toe ulcer. The ulcers develop in areas where your foot rubs or presses against shoes repeatedly.
Ulcers can lead to infections. The infection does not go away sometimes, and you may need to have part of your foot or toe removed surgically. Early treatment will reduce your risk of amputation.
Daily Foot Care Routine for Diabetics
You should take care of your feet properly when you experience diabetes. If you think you have an infection, then communicate with your doctor and inform them about your situation. Early diabetic foot treatment keeps it from spreading.
Here are some foot care habits you can adopt and try to do every day.
Inspect Your Feet
Check your feet and toes. Inspect the tops and sides properly. If you are unable to inspect your own feet, then use a mirror or ask someone to help. Contact your doctor if you discover any sores, redness, or cuts
Wash Your Feet
Use warm water with mild soap for washing your feet. Avoid hot water and harsh soaps as these can damage your skin.
Check the water temperature before putting your feet in. Your diabetes may make it difficult to sense water temperature with your feet. So check with your hands.
Dry Your Feet
Pat your feet and make sure to dry them well. Infections tend to develop in moist areas, so make sure to dry the area between your toes well.
Moisturize Dry Skin
If you feel that your feet are rough or dry, then use lotion or oil. Avoid using lotion between your toes.
Choosing the Right Footwear
It is crucial to choose the right shoe to maintain good foot health. Let us look at some tips to make the right choice while buying footwear.
Know the Size
Our foot size can change over time due to factors like age or weight changes. It is crucial to measure the foot size every time you buy new shoes. The best time to measure your foot size is at the end of the day when your feet are at their largest.
Try Before Buying
Give a trial before buying your shoes. Walk around in them and ensure they are comfortable and fit well. The shoe should meet the shape of your foot. Your foot should not be forced to conform to the shape of the shoe.
Check for Comfort
Your new shoes should feel comfortable right away. If they need a break-in period, then they may not be the right fit for you.
Consider the Material
Choose shoes made from natural and breathable materials like leather or canvas. These materials allow better air circulation and keep your feet dry, reducing the risk of fungal infections.
Look for Good Arch Support
It is crucial to distribute pressure evenly across your foot. This will help you prevent foot pain.
Ensure Adequate Depth
If you use custom orthotics, then ensure the shoes are deep enough to accommodate them without making the shoes too tight.
Adjustable Closures
Choose shoes with adjustable closures like laces. These allow you to customize the shoe fit according to your comfort. This also ensures that your shoes stay securely on your feet.
Preventing Infections and Managing Minor Injuries
Let us know some tips to prevent and manage diabetic foot infections properly. This will help you treat better and get the results faster.
Recognize Early Signs
Stay alert for infection signs like redness, swelling, or warmth. Early detection and prompt treatment are ideal to prevent complications.
Seek Medical Attention
If you notice any signs of infection or persistent foot problems, then seek medical help fast. Early intervention can prevent the progression of the issue and reduce the risk of severe complications.
Consult a diabetic foot specialist for specialized care.
Assessment for Neuropathy and Vascular Problems
Doctors may perform a simple bedside clinical assessment to suspect neuropathy. Biothesiometry testing is also done for this.
Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) measurements is another simple test to screen patients for vascular involvement. Doctors can also perform interventional radiology consultation for further optimization of vascular health.
Treatments for Severe Diabetic Foot Issues
You can avoid serious complications by seeing your doctor and getting treatment early that affect your feet.
Diabetic Neuropathy
There is actually no cure for this, but you can take steps to slow the progression of this disease. The doctor will recommend pain medication to help alleviate nerve pain.
You can take over-the-counter medications for mild nerve pain. Prescription medications like anti-seizure drugs can help ease the pain for moderate or severe pain.
Maintain a healthy weight and regular physical activity to slow the progression of diabetic neuropathy.
Peripheral Vascular Disease
The doctor will recommend treatment to slow disease progression and improve blood flow for this. You can also improve that by eating healthy and exercising daily.
Treatment involves medication to reduce blood clotting and lower cholesterol. Good diabetes management can also reduce symptoms of peripheral vascular disease.
You may need angioplasty for it in severe cases. This is a surgical procedure to open up a blocked artery and restore blood flow.
Gangrene and Charcot Foot
This involves antibiotics to kill bacteria and stop an infection. Charcot foot treatment involves preventing further deformity.
Wearing a cast to immobilize the foot and ankle can strengthen the bones. Surgery can help correct a deformity in severe cases.
Bottom Line
There is no cure for diabetes. But if you have this, then a healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce the risk of further complications. Take a diabetic foot care when you have this.
Check your feet daily for any signs of injury or infection and get in touch with us if you notice any unusual Diabetic foot symptoms.
At Union Podiatre, our team of highly experienced doctors employs world-class treatment standards to manage and treat diabetic foot problems. Book an appointment with our expert podiatrist in Laval, South Shore, Montreal, St. Hyacinthe, Brossard, and more.