Why Diabetes Patients Need to Pay Special Attention to Their Foot Care

Diet and exercise get a lot of attention in terms of managing diabetes. While both are important, you need to tend to your foot health, too.

More than one in 10 people in the United States has diabetes, making it a very common chronic condition. And some of the most prevalent diabetes-related complications involve the feet.

At Babak Kosari, DPM, Inc, in Northridge and Santa Clarita, California, board-certified podiatrist Dr. Kosari provides diabetic foot care to support your health and stave off complications. Here’s why paying close attention to your feet is such an important part of diabetes management.

How diabetes affects your feet

Diabetes causes your body to produce too little insulin or to have trouble using insulin well. Because insulin regulates your blood sugar (glucose), diabetes makes you prone to high blood sugar levels. Over time, high blood sugar can cause a range of problems, such as nerve and blood vessel damage, heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss.

The blood vessel and nerve damage from diabetes, known as neuropathy, makes way for foot issues such as:

• Numbness and tingling
• Wounds that heal slowly or not at all
• Foot ulcers and infections
• Gangrene, from untreated infections

All of these issues can be linked. When your feet feel numb, a minor cut can go unnoticed. If that cut goes without cleaning or protection, it can form an ulcer. Ignored ulcers easily get infected, raising your risk for gangrene.

Diabetes and foot amputation

A foot ulcer that’s resistant to healing can cause severe damage to your bone and tissues that can only be treated with amputation. Foot amputation is among the most serious risks of diabetes. It’s also relatively common. About four in five lower limb amputations (80%) result from diabetes complications.

Gangrene, the medical term for decayed tissues from restricted blood flow in your feet, often stems from an untreated infection. Once you have it, the affected area turns greenish-black. In severe cases, gangrene requires amputation of the affected toes and/or foot — and sometimes part of the lower leg.

How to care for your feet

If you’re dealing with diabetes-related foot concerns, Dr. Kosari and our team can recommend customized treatment. We can also suggest preventive, proactive lifestyle steps, such as:

• Scheduling yearly professional foot exams for basic care
• Having foot exams every three to six months if diabetes isn’t controlled
• Keeping your toenails trimmed straight across to avoid ingrown nails 
• Washing your feet with warm, soapy water daily
• Checking your feet daily for signs of skin damage, cuts, or sores
• Wearing supportive shoes that fit well, including in your home

An overall healthy lifestyle that includes good sleep habits, a nutritious diet, routine exercise, and following your prescribed diabetes treatment plan can go a long way in protecting your foot health, too.

To get personalized diabetes foot care, call your nearest Babak Kosari, DPM, Inc, office in Northridge or Santa Clarita, California, today, or use our easy online scheduler to book an appointment at your convenience.