Diabetic Foot

diabetic foot care to improve your health

Problems with the feet are very common in people who have diabetes. Though diabetic foot is not inevitable for all diabetes patients, it is considered a chronic condition once you develop it. Fortunately, it can be successfully managed and controlled with proper self care and hygiene habits. Diabetic foot may develop when the nerves and blood vessels in the legs and feet become damaged by chronically high blood sugar levels. This can cause symptoms such as tingling, pain, swelling, and numbness in your feet. You may be surprised to find a cut, blister, or sore on your foot that you didn’t feel before. Worryingly, these wounds and injuries often heal much slower due to the poor blood flow from the damaged blood vessels in your feet. Slow healing wounds can put you at serious risk of gangrene, which is defined as complete tissue death of the affected area or body part due to loss of blood flow. This condition can be deadly if it spreads to the rest of the body. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What can I do to keep my feet healthy if I have diabetes?

    Having a chronic condition like diabetes can make it harder to live a healthy life, but it’s far from impossible. As long as you follow these common-sense guidelines and work with your healthcare provider, keeping your diabetes under control and protecting the health of your feet are very achievable goals:  


     • Control your blood sugar levels every day and follow good dietary habits


     • Stop smoking


     • Check your feet every morning and evening for any signs of injuries, infections, or abnormalities


     • Wash your feet every day and make sure your feet are neither sweaty (excess moisture can cause infection) or too dry (overly dry skin can cause cracks, irritation, and infection)


     • Seek treatment from your doctor or podiatrist as soon as you suspect a foot problem—what can seem minor can lead to something serious if you damage your skin while attempting self-treatment 


     • Practice good foot care habits (trim your toenails straight across, wear comfortable shoes and socks, never walk barefoot, etc)


     • Maintain good blood flow in your feet (elevate your feet when sitting, massage your feet and toes daily, do regular foot exercises, engage in regular exercise that’s not hard on your feet)


     • Have your feet checked during your wellness visits or see your podiatrist every 2 to 3 months

  • When should I see a doctor about my diabetic foot?

    You should see your doctor right away if you experience any of these troubling symptoms:


     • Any injury or infection (cut, sore, blister, bruise, ulcer, etc) on your foot that hasn’t started to heal after at least 2 days


     • Any unusual changes to the skin and nails of your feet (redness, itchiness, change in color, the appearance of growths, extreme dryness, cracking, yellowing of nails, etc)


     • Any changes to the shape of your foot


     • Deformities (such as bunions, hammertoes, calluses, ingrown toenails, etc) that start to form on your feet


     • Changes in the skin temperature of the feet


     • Pain, loss of feeling, and/or swelling in the foot, ankle, or leg


     • Persistent foot odor that won’t go away despite your best efforts

  • What kind of foot problems commonly occur with diabetes?

    You don’t need to have diabetes to experience foot problems. However, being diabetic can make it more likely for you to develop the following: 


     • Fungal infections on the skin and/or toenails


     • Corns and calluses


     • Blisters and sores


     • Ulcers 


     • Bunions


     • Hammertoes 


     • Ingrown toenails


     • Dry, cracked skin


     • Plantar warts

  • Can my diabetic foot heal on its own without treatment?

    Because of the existing damage to your nerves and blood vessels, your natural healing capabilities have been substantially reduced. Therefore, it’s unrealistic and dangerous to expect a normal or speedy recovery, especially without treatment. If you have diabetes, we strongly urge you to work closely with your doctor to safeguard your health and keep your feet in excellent condition. 

  • What are the possible complications of diabetic foot?

    Delaying or skipping much-needed treatment for your diabetic foot can lead to the following complications: 


     • Infections of the skin and bone


     • Sepsis (when the body has an extreme response to an infection and damages its own tissues) 


     • Abscess (pocket of pus that forms during an infection) 


     • Foot deformities such as bunions, hammertoes, claw feet, etc


     • Charcot foot (a condition that impairs the bones, joints, and other tissues in the feet)


     • Gangrene (tissue death due to insufficient blood flow)


     • Amputation (to remove any body parts affected with gangrene)

  • What medical treatments are available for diabetic foot?

    There are many types of therapies available for diabetic foot, depending on your symptoms. Treatments include but are not limited to:


     • Antibiotics and/or anti-fungal medication


     • Minimally invasive treatments for removing calluses, corns, and plantar warts


     • Surgery for foot deformities such as bunions and hammertoes


     • Wound cleaning and abscess draining


     • Debridement (the cutting/removal of dead or infected tissue)


     • Orthotics


     • Wheelchair or crutches to keep weight off the affected foot


     • Amputation in cases of gangrene


    To avoid hospitalization and the risk of serious health problems, it is recommended that you seek treatment for your diabetic foot condition as soon as possible.