People who have been diagnosed with diabetes do need to pay more attention to their feet. High blood sugar can lead to damage to the nerves and blood vessels over time, but without symptoms; the feet are the furthest part of the body and are the first to show damage. Diabetic foot care is therefore not only a healthy habit, but one of the most crucial components of taking care of diabetes and preventing complications that can affect the quality of life of a diabetic and may even lead to amputation.
Diabetes management at Center for Integrative & Traditional Medicine (CITM) in Paramus, NJ is a whole-body treatment system that works with the best of the foot doctors to take care of your feet before the little problem turns into a big one. Let’s examine the reasons why the diabetic foot is so vulnerable, what some of the daily practices are that can affect it most, and when to seek out a podiatrist near me rather than wait it out.
Why Diabetes Puts Your Feet at Risk
There are two main pathways in which diabetes impacts the feet, and by understanding them, you will see why prevention is important.
- Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). High blood sugar levels over time can cause damage to the fine nerves in your feet and legs (diabetic neuropathy). This usually begins with tingling or numbness and may eventually result in a loss of sensation. The risk here is not obvious but can be severe; this could lead to a blister, a cut, or stepping on something sharp and not noticing. A small wound may easily become an infection or abrasion if it isn’t watched closely.
- Peripheral artery disease (poor circulation). Diabetes can also cause narrowed or hardened blood vessels, which can decrease blood flow to the lower legs and feet, a condition known as peripheral artery disease. With poor circulation, less oxygen and fewer healing nutrients reach any wound on the foot, meaning that even minor cuts can take much longer to heal than normal, increasing the risk of infection.
Add decreased sensation and slow healing, and you have the essence of why diabetic foot problems are so prevalent: injuries aren’t noticed, and once they are, they don’t heal well.
The Real Risk: Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Diabetic foot disease is a serious complication that can lead to foot ulcers, which are open sores that are often found on the bottom of the foot, around areas of pressure, such as the heel or the ball of the foot. Diabetic foot ulcers may:
- Grow from a misfit shoe or a callus
- Fall without feeling it for days or even weeks
- Contract the infection rapidly because of poor circulation
- Progress to hospitalization or, if untreated, amputation
The good news is that foot ulcer prevention is quite possible and easily accomplished with daily foot care and frequent foot inspections. Early detection is the key to preventing most foot complications caused by diabetes – hence the importance of routine podiatric care for all people with diabetes.
Daily Diabetic Foot Care Habits That Actually Work
No medical background necessary to keep your feet safe; just a simple, regular regimen. We recommend the following for our patients at CITM:
1. Inspect your feet every single day
Look for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, or discoloration on the tops, bottoms, heels, and between the toes. Use a mirror or a family member to see the bottom of your foot if this is not easily possible.
2. Wash and dry your feet properly
Rinse your feet with lukewarm water every day, and pat them dry – particularly between the toes, where moisture can cause fungal infections.
3. Moisturize (but skip the toes)
Bacteria can easily penetrate dry, cracked skin. Lotion the bottom and top of your feet, but not between your toes–where fungus is more likely to occur.
4. Trim toenails carefully
Trim nails straight across and round any sharp edges to prevent ingrown nails, as these can easily become infected in diabetic feet.
5. Never go barefoot
Bare feet can be affected by cuts and punctures at home too, which may not be noticed. Have supportive shoes or slippers on at all times.
6. Choose the right footwear
Diabetic shoes, when properly fitted and cushioned, minimize pressure points and friction, which may contribute to blistering and ulcers. Do not wear narrow, tight, or worn shoes.
7. Manage your blood sugar
Maintaining stable blood sugars is the key to the health of the diabetic foot. Maintaining these levels of glucose will help slow the onset of neuropathy and will help circulation and healing recover throughout the body.
8. Don’t smoke
Smoking also narrows blood vessels to the arms and legs, which further decreases blood flow in individuals with diabetes.
9. Schedule regular podiatry checkups
Even with a perfect at-home routine, a professional diabetic foot exam will detect problems that are easy to miss, such as changes in circulation and subtle changes in skin and early nerve damage.
What Happens During a Diabetic Foot Exam?
If you are looking for a podiatrist near me for the first time, here’s what you can expect from a thorough diabetic foot examination:
- Physical examination of the skin, nails, and foot for calluses, cracks, or signs of early ulcers in the foot
- Sensation testing (usually with a monofilament tool) to determine if there is nerve damage
- Assessment of circulation, checking pulses in feet and ankles
- Footwear assessment to make sure your shoes provide adequate support and protection to your feet
- Wound care – if sores or ulcers are already present
Getting a foot check at least once a year is recommended for most people with diabetes, and should be more regular if the diabetes affects the nerves, blood vessels, or if the person has a foot ulcer before.
When to See a Podiatrist Right Away
If any of the following is observed, space the visits out:
- A sore that will not heal, a blister or a cut that does not heal
- Redness, heat, or swelling of any part of the foot
- Draining or an unusual smell from a wound
- If your foot or toes change colour or temperature
- New onset of numbness, tingling or burning pain
- Even slight signs of infection
For diabetics, wound care early in the healing process can significantly improve the results. Even a small problem can turn into a serious problem if blood flow is affected, and rather than waiting to see what happens, it’s better to have it tested.
A Whole-Body Approach to Diabetic Foot Health
We don’t consider diabetic foot care at CITM as just a single problem. Diabetes impacts the whole body, so our team of podiatrists collaborate with our Internal Medicine and functional medicine doctors to treat your blood sugar, circulation, inflammation and nutritional issues all together – not just your foot. This integrated model is in line with our overall thinking as a functional medicine doctor in Bergen County, treating causes not symptoms.
IV Nutrient Therapy is also recommended for patients with circulation problems or slow-healing wounds to promote the healing of tissues and general well-being, while Acupuncture is recommended for managing discomfort caused by neuropathy. Each plan is tailored to your personal health and objectives.
Take the time to get a foot exam, or just look for a proactive, seasoned podiatrist near me in the Paramus and Bergen County area, and our team at CITM can help preserve your mobility and independence for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions: Diabetic Foot Care and Prevention
Diabetic foot care is the routine activities and medical evaluations individuals with diabetes have to perform on their feet to prevent problems such as nerve damage, poor circulation, ulcers and infections from long-standing high blood sugar.
For most diabetics, it is recommended to visit a podiatrist once a year for a thorough foot examination. Individuals with diabetes that already have neuropathy, circulatory issues or a previous history of foot ulcers might need to be checked every 3 to 6 months.
Symptoms that occur early include the following: numbness or tingling, dry or cracked skin, slow healing of cuts, color or temperature changes to the foot, and recurrent calluses or blisters.
Yes. Foot ulcer prevention is not only attainable, but can be achieved with daily foot inspections, proper footwear, good blood sugar control, and regular podiatric checkups that intercept foot problems before they manifest as an open sore.
Over time, high blood glucose damages the small nerves in the feet, a condition known as diabetic neuropathy, that can decrease or even eliminate sensation, making injury difficult to see.
Diabetics should wear shoes that fit well and are cushioned, with adequate space in the toe box; tight, narrow, or worn footwear should be avoided, as it can cause pressure points and friction.
Exams and therapeutic footwear for diabetics are typically covered by many insurance plans, including Medicare. Please check with your provider or our office for your coverage.