How does diabetes affect foot health?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects your overall health, especially the health of your feet. This condition involves dysfunction in the process of converting sugar from your diet into the energy you need to sustain life.
When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make any, or enough, of the insulin hormone you need to control sugar, resulting in chronically high blood sugar levels.
High levels of blood sugar that go uncontrolled lead to long-term health complications, including permanent nerve damage, a condition known as diabetic neuropathy.
When you have damage in your nerves, you may not feel sensations, such as pain, especially in your feet. This can lead to a variety of foot problems, including skin ulcerations and infections that go unnoticed and untreated.
Diabetes can also cause diabetic dermopathy, a skin condition that causes increased pigmentation of the shins and lower legs. While not harmful, diabetic dermopathy can be mistaken for dead tissue or hinder a diagnosis of malignant melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.
Why is diabetic foot care important?
With daily inspections of your feet at home, you’re at increased risk for developing ulcers and other issues that go unnoticed. Additionally, you should have regular foot inspections with Dr. Shwer, who can identify potential foot health issues related to diabetes in its earliest stage.
Dr. Shwer provides comprehensive foot evaluations in-office that focus on checking the health of your skin on all areas of the foot, including in between the toes.
She can identify areas of swelling, tenderness, or numbness that you may not have noticed, especially if you already have undiagnosed nerve damage.
In addition to addressing existing diabetes-related foot issues, Dr. Shwer provides you with comprehensive resources to help you protect the long-term health of your feet. This includes guidance for daily foot hygiene, nail trimming, and ensuring your diabetes is well-controlled.
What treatments are available for diabetes-related foot complications?
If you already have diabetic foot complications, like infected calluses, or underlying foot issues that are complicated by diabetes, Dr. Shwer customizes your treatment plan to prevent the worsening of your condition.
In-office treatments include antibiotic therapy for current infections and professional removal of ingrown toenails, calluses, and corns.
While you can’t reverse existing diabetic neuropathy, Dr. Shwer works closely with you to prevent new complications when you can’t feel sensations in your feet.
If you have diabetes and need a reliable diabetic feet specialist, schedule a consultation with Dr. Shwer at Flatlands Foot Care by calling the office or by requesting an appointment online now.
