diabetic foot care

Diabetes and Your Feet – What’s the Connection?

Diabetes is a serious disease that goes far beyond having too much glucose, or blood sugar, in your bloodstream. That excess glucose can cause critical complications ranging from heart disease to nerve damage, kidney disease, eye, and skin damage – as well as foot damage so serious that amputation may be required.

Because of the importance of understanding diabetes and how it affects your whole body, we are presenting a series of articles in November for National Diabetes Month. This blog focuses on the often underestimated connection between diabetes and your feet.

Two Complications from Diabetes Can Hit Your Feet Hard

When your blood sugar is uncontrolled because of diabetes, nerve damage called neuropathy can result. If the nerves aren’t working correctly because of neuropathy, they don’t function and therefore can’t transmit signals of pain or temperature changes. Neuropathy often strikes the extremities like the feet, legs, and hands.

With diabetic neuropathy, your feet will not be able to feel pain. You may suffer a foot injury like a cut, bruise or puncture wound and never know it. If the wound doesn’t heal properly, it can become infected and worsen into a dangerous ulcer that attacks deep tissues and even the bones.

The second complication that makes diabetes so dangerous is peripheral vascular disease. Too much blood sugar affects your blood flow, including to the feet, so any wound or ulcer will take longer to heal.

The double complication? You won’t feel a wound and the restricted blood flow won’t let it heal. This is a dangerous recipe for gangrene and amputation.

Visit Your Podiatrist Every Six Months If You Have Diabetes

Keeping on top of your foot health with regular podiatrist visits is vital if you have diabetes. We will do a complete foot inspection to make sure that any damage or skin or nail changes are being tracked. We will be happy to counsel you on how to take care of your feet and will recommend the best footwear for you and your medical condition. We’re here to help!

Let Us Know If You Notice a Toe Abnormality or Have Toe Pain

For any type of foot or ankle pain, call us. Foot pain is not normal! If you have pain from bunions or any other foot or ankle condition or have suffered any type of foot injury, please call Dr. Christopher M. Funk, Dr. Bradley A. Whitaker or Dr. Peter C. Merrill at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. Our professional staff offers expert podiatry services at three Pima County offices: Tucson, Oro Valley and Green Valley. Please call us today at (520) 575-0800 to schedule your appointment.

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