Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes patients are more prone to foot issues due to persistently high blood sugar levels. Two main problems are diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease, both of which can lead to serious complications.

Diabetes affects insulin production or sensitivity, a hormone that helps cells absorb sugar from the bloodstream for energy. When insulin doesn't work properly, sugar remains in the blood, causing health issues. Prolonged high blood sugar can damage various body parts, including the feet.

What is Diabetes?

Blood glucose (sugar) levels that are excessively high are known as diabetes. What you consume gives you glucose, which your cells need to function as fuel. Insulin, a hormone, helps glucose enter your cells.

In type 1 diabetes, your body cannot produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, your body either doesn't produce enough insulin or doesn't use it effectively. Without sufficient insulin, glucose builds up in the blood, leading to high blood sugar levels.

Symptoms

Symptoms of diabetic foot vary from person to person and may depend on the specific problems a person is experiencing at the time.

However, symptoms can include:

A person may also experience some of the following symptoms if an infection develops:

Anyone with diabetes who develops signs of infection, particularly in the feet, should seek immediate medical attention.

What are Some Common Foot Problems with Diabetes?

The following list of foot issues can affect anyone. However, these frequent foot issues can cause major complications, including amputations and infections, in patients with diabetes. Understanding what is diabetic foot is crucial, as it refers to a range of problems affecting the feet of diabetic patients due to complications like poor circulation and neuropathy.

Athlete's Foot

The athlete's foot is a fungus that causes itching, redness, and cracking. Germs can enter through cracks in your skin and cause an infection. This is particularly concerning for those with diabetic foot causes, as diabetes can lead to complications like poor circulation and neuropathy, which may increase the risk of infections. Medications that kill the fungus can treat athlete's foot. These medicines are available as tablets or lotions.

Fungal Infection of the Nails

Nails infected with fungus may become discolored (yellowish-brown or dull), thick, brittle, and may separate from the nail bed. In some cases, the nail may crumble. The dark, humid, and warm environment inside shoes can promote fungal growth, and an injury to the nail can also lead to an infection.

Nail fungal infections are challenging to treat. Topical medications are available but may be effective for only some cases. Prescription oral medications might be needed, and your doctor may also remove the damaged nail.

Calluses

A callus is a collection of hard skin, usually on the bottom of the foot. Corns are caused by uneven weight distribution, poorly fitting shoes, or skin problems. While having a corn is common, your doctor will determine if it is causing issues.

To care for a corn, use a pumice stone to gently remove the accumulated tissue after your bath or shower. Use cushioned insoles in your shoes. Medicines can also help soften corn. Avoid cutting the callus or removing it with a pointed object.

Corn

A corn is a tough buildup of skin near the bony area of a toe or between the toes. Corns can develop due to pressure from shoes rubbing against the toes or friction between them.

To care for corns, use a pumice stone to gently remove the accumulated tissue after your bath or shower. Avoid over-the-counter remedies to dissolve corns and do not try to cut or remove them with a pointed object.

Blisters

Blisters can form when shoes rub the same spot on your foot. Shoes that don't fit or wearing them without socks can cause blisters, which may become infected.

When treating blisters, avoid popping them. The skin covering the blister acts as a barrier to infection. To protect the skin and prevent infection, apply an antibacterial lotion and cover the blister with clean, soft bandages.

Bunions

The big toe bending toward the second toe results in a bunion. The area where the big toe meets the foot may become red, callused, and protrude. Bunions can occur on one or both feet and may be inherited, but they are often caused by wearing high-heeled shoes with narrow toes, which push the big toe toward the second toe.

Felt or foam padding can help protect the bunion from irritation. Your doctor may use a device to separate the big toe from the second toe.In cases when a bunion is causing extreme discomfort or deformity, realigning the toes may require surgery.

Dry Skin

Dry skin can break, allowing pathogens to enter the body. Use moisturizing lotions and soaps to keep your skin supple and hydrated. Ask your doctor which ones to use.

Hammer's Toes

A hammertoe is a toe that bends due to a weakened muscle, causing the tendons to shorten and the toe to bend under the foot. Hammertoes can be inherited or caused by shoes that are too short. They can lead to walking problems, blisters, corns, and sores.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when the edges of the nail grow into the skin, causing pressure and pain along the edges. This can lead to redness, swelling, pain, discharge, and infection. The most common cause is pressure from shoes, but poorly trimmed nails, crowded toes, and repeated foot injuries from activities like jogging or aerobics can also contribute.

To prevent ingrown toenails, keep your toenails neatly trimmed. If you have a persistent problem or a nail infection, seek medical attention. In severe situations, the growth plate and a portion of the toenail may need to be removed surgically.

Plantar Warts

Plantar warts look like calluses on the ball of the foot or the heel and may have tiny holes or black dots in the center. They are usually painful and can grow singly or in groups. A virus affects the outer layer of skin on the soles of the feet, causing plantar warts.

If you're unsure whether you have a plantar wart or a corn, let your doctor decide. They have several methods to remove them.

Diabetic Foot Treatment options include splints and corrective shoes. In severe cases, surgery may be needed to straighten the toes.

Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes patients must avoid foot issues at all costs. Keeping feet healthy is essential and a person must be attentive to foot hygiene. They can take the following steps:

Frequently Asked Questions