Diabetes Top 6 Foot Problems You Should Look For

It's true that many medical conditions have absolutely nothing to do with the foot. Colds, for instance, are not particularly related to podiatric care. (Unless, of course, you're sneezing so hard that you accidentally stumble into the corner of the table and break your toe.) However, some diseases or medical conditions are linked closely with the feet, and diabetes is most definitely one of these conditions.

If you have diabetes, don't deny it. Ignoring the problem can lead to your health spiraling completely out of control. Whereas being aware of your diabetes, keeping close tabs on your blood sugar level, and managing any problems that arise can prevent severe complications and extend your life. However, acknowledging you have diabetes doesn't mean you have to resign yourself to losing limbs or having a huge host of problems. There are many things you can do to prevent complications from developing, and thus protect the health of your foot, and your life.

Diabetes And Your Feet

Diabetes can cause two serious problems that are closely linked to foot health: nerve damage and damage to the blood vessels. Nerve damage (also known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy) might mean that you won't notice when your foot becomes injured, so you continue to walk on it or fail to get it treated, which will cause further damage. Circulation problems mean that diabetics will be slow to heal from injuries or infections. Feet are particularly susceptible to circulation issues, since they're about as far from the heart as your body gets, and blood coming from your feet has to fight against gravity to get back up to the heart. So, in short, if you get even a small cut or irritation on your foot, it can develop into serious trouble. In fact, it can even lead to infection and eventual tissue death.

Six possible complications that can arise from diabetes are listed below. Please remember: this information isn't intended to terrify you and make you retreat into a dark room where you never put your feet on the ground again. However, it's very, very important to understand the seriousness of diabetic complications so that you take the time and effort to resolve problems early before they become life-threatening.

1) Ulcers: This is a particularly common complication from diabetes. Basically, ulcers form from areas of the skin that are under pressure, injured (such as with a small cut) or otherwise irritated. Because of nerve damage, people with diabetes can't always feel this irritation developing. Without any changes made to protect this irritated skin, (such as switching shoes, padding the area, etc.), it may eventually break down completely, leaving an open sore: an ulcer. Unfortunately, because people with diabetes also have trouble healing (due to circulation issues), these ulcers are slow to heal and can easily become infected. They may eventually become so bad that it's necessary to remove a portion of the foot, the entire foot, or even your leg. In some very serious circumstances, ulcers can even become life-threatening.

2) Corns and Calluses: Corns and calluses aren't experienced by diabetics alone. They form when skin is under unusual pressure from shoes, or may form as a result of a deformity in the foot. However, diabetics may be particularly susceptible to these foot problems, since (again, because of nerve damage) noticing when shoes or other things are irritating the foot is somewhat difficult. Without proper treatment, it's easy for corns and calluses to turn into ulcers, so getting these problems treated early is essential.

3) Hammertoes and Bunions: Neuropathy (nerve damage) doesn't just affect your ability to feel things through your skin. Remember that it's nerves (transmitting signals from your brain) that causes your muscles to move. So, damage to these nerves can also cause your muscles to get weaker or have a change in tone. Hammertoes or bunions may result, which, in turn, can lead to ulcers as your foot begins to experience pressure in unusual areas.

4) Dry Skin: Oddly enough, both a lack of proper circulation and nerve damage can make the skin of your feet dry and cracked. Now, dry feet may not seem like a particularly serious condition, but left untreated, the skin can crack, which can lead to infection and...you guessed it...possible amputation.

5) Nail Problems: Ingrown toenails and fungal infections of the nail are, again, not restricted to those with diabetes. Unfortunately, people with diabetes may not notice these problems (yup—once again due to nerve damage) and so infection may follow.

6) Charcot Foot: Charcot foot is a very serious diabetic complication. Imagine breaking a bone in your foot (sometimes only a very small fracture) and then continuing to walk on it. For a long time. That's a really ugly image, right? This is what happens with Charcot foot. Because of nerve damage (that ever-present diabetic threat), someone with diabetes may not be aware that they've developed a fracture. Where someone with fully operational nerves may be moaning and crying and staying off the foot, a diabetic might blithely walk along, not noticing the damage they're continuing to cause by putting weight on it. Eventually, the soft tissue of the foot are destroyed, bones are seriously damaged, and surgery or even amputation may become the only option.

tags: Diabetic foot, foot ulceration, foot sore, foot,feet,diabetes feet,podiatrist, diabetic foot care, diabetes foot

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