Diabetic Foot

How can diabetes affect my feet?

High glucose levels that cause diabetes can also cause problems with your feet from loss of normal blood circulation and normal nerve function. Common foot conditions diabetes causes include:

• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Infections, including cellulitis, osteomyelitis, and abscesses
• Gangrene
• Charcot’s joint, also called Charcot arthropathy

By controlling your blood sugar levels through proper diet and medications and taking care of your feet, you can slow the progression of these conditions. However, without regular foot care, your symptoms could progress and if severe enough, amputation of your toes or foot may be required.

How can I keep my feet healthy?

Your doctor at Neuhaus Foot & Ankle can teach you many ways to care for your feet, such as:

• Checking your feet daily for cuts or sores
• Washing your feet daily
• Smoothing corns and calluses gently with a pumice stone
• Avoiding cutting corns and calluses or using over-the-counter medicated patches
• Cutting your toenails straight across
• Always wearing shoes and socks
• Protecting your feet from hot and cold temperatures
• Improving blood circulation to your feet

Your doctor provides effective care for diabetic foot problems, including many preventive options. Your doctor may also recommend specific soaps and lotions, socks and shoes, and exercises to improve the health of your feet.

Why is a foot check from my doctor important?

You should have all your medical providers check your feet at every office visit and have a thorough foot exam at Neuhaus Foot & Ankle every year. Regular foot checks from your doctor can help identify foot issues before they become major problems.

If you notice or have any of the following, schedule an appointment at Neuhaus Foot & Ankle right away.

• Changes in the shape of your feet
• Loss of feeling in your feet
• Peripheral artery disease
• A foot ulcer or wound that isn’t healing

These changes can signal specific problems to your doctor that require immediate attention to reduce the chances of permanent injury or damage.

It’s also important to not miss your annual exam at Neuhaus Foot & Ankle if you’ve ever experienced a foot ulcer or had a limb amputated in the past to prevent further complications.

When should I see a doctor for my foot problems?

In addition to regular foot checks, it’s important to see your doctor if you have any of the following:

• A cut, blister, or bruise that doesn’t start to heal within a few days
• The skin on your foot that has become warm, red, or painful
• A callus with dried blood inside it
• A foot infection that becomes black in color and smelly

These symptoms can be signs of other larger problems, including non-healing wounds, infections, and gangrene. Your Neuhaus Foot & Ankle doctor provides conservative and surgical treatments as needed for all diabetic foot issues.

Get your feet checked at Neuhaus Foot & Ankle today. Schedule a visit online or over the phone.