If you are diabetic, pay extra attention to your feet. Diabetes can impair your circulatory and nervous systems and create a host of problems with your feet. You may experience poor circulation or tingling and numbness from nerve damage, making injuries easy to overlook and hard to heal.
A little TLC can make a big difference in preventing more serious problems with your feet.
If you have diabetes, inspect your feet every day. Check the tops and bottoms of each foot for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling or nail problems.
To avoid itching or cracking, regularly moisturize your feet.
Try to keep the blood flowing in your feet by wiggling your toes and moving your ankles, at least for five minutes two to three times a day.
Before putting on your shoes, shake them out and check for any foreign objects inside to avoid irritating your foot.
Avoid heating pads, hot water bottles or electric blankets because you can easily burn your feet without noticing. And never put your feet in hot water. Test it with your hand first and wait until it has cooled to avoid getting burned.
Since diabetes can impair your ability to heal and make you more prone to infection, don’t try to remove corns or calluses on your own. Visit a foot and ankle surgeon for appropriate treatment.
Keeping active is important for overall health, but diabetics should take special precautions when exercising. Don’t wear tight, elastic or bulky socks when walking. They can cut off circulation or irritate your feet.
In snowy or wet weather, keep your feet dry with warm socks and waterproof shoes. And never walk barefoot, even at home! It is too easy to get cut or scratched.
It’s especially important to maintain healthy blood sugar levels so that out-of-control blood sugar levels won’t damage your nerve cells. Diabetics with significant nerve damage can experience a weakening of the bones and joints of the foot, known as Charcot foot.
Symptoms include swelling, redness, heat and numbness. Pain may or may not be present. If you notice signs of Charcot foot, see a foot and ankle surgeon immediately.
By scheduling periodic foot exams with your doctor, diabetic patients can prevent serious complications. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Wentz Foot & Ankle Specialists at 719-539-6600 or visit wentzfootandankle.com.
Dr. Ralph Wentz is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon in Salida and a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. More info at wentzfootandankle.com