When people think of a foot injury, they often imagine a twisted ankle or broken toe. However, not all foot problems are the result of bone, muscle, or ligament damage. Diabetes, for example, can increase a person's risk of foot issues, including ulcers.
The good news is that there are steps people can take to prevent this common complication.
At the offices of Advanced Care Foot and Ankle, located in Corona and Ontario, California, our highly skilled podiatric surgeons provide state-of-the-art care for a wide variety of foot and ankle issues. We partner with our patients and provide customized treatments tailored to the individual, whether the issue is a sports injury, plantar fasciitis, diabetic foot care, or any number of other conditions.
Diabetes is a common condition that affects the body's blood sugar levels and can lead to several health problems if not properly managed. These include heart disease, nerve damage, foot issues, and more.
Diabetes can cause nerve damage or peripheral neuropathy, which results in tingling, numbness, and burning in the feet. This can lead to people cutting or otherwise injuring their feet and not even realizing it.
Another complication is peripheral vascular disease, where blood vessels narrow and not enough blood reaches the feet to heal when an injury occurs.
These conditions can contribute to open wounds and infections. Damage can become significant if not properly treated and affect the bones and tissues. About 160,000 people in the United States undergo amputations each year due to diabetes complications.
There are multiple things people with diabetes can do to help keep their feet as healthy as possible. These include the following:
Look at both feet every day for cuts, scratches, blisters, and ingrown toenails. Use a mirror for a good view of the bottom of the feet. In addition, watch for any symptoms of an infection, such as redness, swelling, or warmth.
Wash your feet each day with soap and warm water. Dry them gently with a towel, including between the toes.
Avoiding blisters is important, so make sure shoes fit properly with a half-inch of space between the toes and the top of the shoe, plus good arch support. Footwear that is either too big or too small can cause problems. Wear clean, dry socks. In addition, don't walk barefoot or wear sandals as both increase the chances of a foot injury.
Anyone with diabetes should have their feet evaluated by a medical professional regularly, even if they have no symptoms. This is a perfect opportunity to prevent problems using a combination of foot care education, nail trims, getting prescription diabetic shoes, custom orthotics, and more.
Prevent foot problems by keeping blood sugar levels in the proper range, avoiding extra stress on the feet by maintaining a proper weight, and not smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products that can impede healing.
If you have diabetes — even if it is well controlled — you should be seeing a medical professional regularly. We can help. Click to book an appointment or call the Corona office at 951-735-8806 or the Ontario office at 909-983-5710 today.