Why Is Foot Care Important for Diabetics?

If you have diabetes, you’ve probably heard about the importance of foot care. Diabetes leaves you vulnerable to various foot conditions. Proper diabetic foot care can help you maintain healthy feet and treat issues as soon as they arise. At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we offer unparalleled expertise and comprehensive treatment of all foot, ankle, and lower leg pathology. We can help you address diabetic foot and toe risks, conditions, and complications.

4 Reasons Why Diabetics Need Foot Care

Diabetes raises sugar levels in your bloodstream. High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage in the feet, resulting in peripheral neuropathy. Diabetes also causes poor circulation to the extremities, which can slow down the wound-healing process. Without daily foot care, people with diabetes may suffer various issues, including infections, unnoticed wounds and blisters, and lost sensation. Here are four reasons why you need to stay on top of your foot care:

1. Identify Foot Issues Early

Peripheral neuropathy can make it difficult to feel pain and other sensations in your feet. You won’t know if you’ve been cut or developed a blister. Proper diabetic foot care involves daily inspection. You should check your feet for cuts, swelling, sores, redness, corns, blisters, calluses, and other changes. Make sure you check all sides, including the bottom. Ask someone to help if you can’t inspect alone. Daily checks allow you to notice and treat injuries promptly.

Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute can help you resolve various diabetic foot conditions. We’re experts in treating and managing bunions, ingrown nails, hammertoes, heel pain, skin conditions, arthritis, deformities, and more. You should check your feet daily and notify your podiatrist about any new development. The goal is to tackle problems early to prevent complications. You’ll also learn more about your feet and discover new ways to protect them.

2. Prevent Foot Infection

Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute can help prevent and treat diabetic foot infections. People with diabetes are more vulnerable to foot infections because of poor circulation. Cells need oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to heal and function normally. Diabetes can lead to oxygen starvation in the extremities, causing wounds to heal slowly. You may also suffer cuts and blisters without knowing. Daily foot protection can help you address infections through prevention.

Our podiatrists can help you stimulate circulation to your feet. We also recommend washing your feet in warm (not hot) water daily. Keep your feet dry, wear shoes that fit well, and never go barefoot. Such simple care standards can protect you from injuries and pathogens that cause infections. Our team will customize your treatment to help boost circulation and stimulate cellular activities required for quick healing.

3. Get Customized Treatment

Daily foot care allows you to seek treatment as soon as you notice a problem. Your foot doctor will perform scheduled scans and checks to examine your flow rate, skin, toes, and joints. If you have any foot problem, the doctor can address it immediately. At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we can help you take proper care of your feet to prevent diabetic foot complications. We can trim your toenails, remove corns and calluses, and perform a complete foot exam.

You shouldn’t attempt to remove corns and calluses or treat diabetic foot conditions with OTC medication. Such products can burn your skin or cause further damage. Working with an experienced podiatrist allows you to diagnose diabetic foot conditions and complications properly. You’ll also get a treatment plan based on your needs. The doctor will provide general care tips and perform thorough checkups during visits to keep your feet healthy.

4. Prevent Injury & Complications

People with diabetes may lose feeling in their feet and suffer unnoticed sores. Left untreated, the sores and blisters can become infected. Since blood flow is already an issue, infected wounds can become a serious problem for people with diabetes. Daily foot care can help prevent injuries, infections, and complications resulting in gangrene and amputations. Daily care is the only way to avoid further damage/complications if you have peripheral neuropathy.

Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute can treat issues as they emerge and offer professional insights to help you prevent complications. Our podiatrists can help you prevent and treat diabetic foot ulcers, nerve damage, irritation, and poor circulation. We offer comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, including offloading, debridement, medication, blood glucose management, and skin grafts. You can also get wound care products to help you prevent infections.

Professional Diabetic Foot Care & Treatment

Dealing with diabetic foot conditions alone can be stressful. You need experienced podiatrists that can examine your feet and establish an effective plan for care and treatment. Working with a professional foot doctor is the best way to address diabetic foot concerns. You can speak to our podiatrist at any stage. Seeking help early will help you prevent complications and treat the damage of diabetes to your feet.

Foot complications can disrupt your life and cause trauma. At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we help you treat various foot and ankle problems. You can meet our team for diabetic care, bunions, hammertoes, ingrown nails, arthritis, ankle and foot deformities, infections, and skin conditions. We have podiatric surgeons, primary care physicians, and rehabilitation specialists. Our goal is to help you treat all foot problems so you can get back to living a whole, quality life.