Diabetic? Here’s How to Care for Your Feet

Diabetes changes a lot about your life. That should include the amount of attention you pay to your feet. While you might not see an immediate connection between diabetes and foot care, implementing a habit of checking your feet can save you from one of the worst complications of diabetes: amputation. 

Fortunately, you’re not on your own when it comes to establishing the right foot care routine. Here at our Vittori Foot & Ankle Specialist offices in Homer Glen and New Lenox, Illinois, Christopher Vittori, DPM, Ameet Thakrar, DPM, and our team offer specialized diabetic foot care.

Why have we implemented this service? And why should you be checking your feet each day? Let’s take a look. 

Diabetes and your feet 

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reports that about 50% of people with diabetes will experience some kind of nerve damage. That’s because your high blood sugar levels can injure your nerves, resulting in a condition called diabetic neuropathy. 

And while that neuropathy can happen anywhere in your body, it’s most common in your legs and feet. There, one of the leading symptoms is decreased sensitivity, so much so that many people stop feeling pain in their feet altogether.

That might sound like a good thing. Decreased foot sensitivity could mean no more uncomfortable blisters or aching arches, right? Technically, yes. But your body uses pain to signal that something is wrong. If you’re unable to receive that signal, you won’t know to give your feet care when they need it.

In fact, diabetic neuropathy drives a lot of ignored ulcers on the feet of people with diabetes. Left untreated, those slow-healing skin sores can progress to the point that amputation becomes necessary. 

That’s a situation you undoubtedly want to avoid. And, fortunately, you can do so fairly easily. You just need to set up a foot-care routine.

Establishing diabetic foot care

To keep your feet healthy and identify potential problems before they become dangerous, you should:

• Check your feet every day
• Be sure your shoes fit properly and have lots of room in the toe box
• Keep your feet clean and dry (e.g., change your socks as needed)
• To avoid ingrown toenails, trim them straight across
• Never try to remove a callus or corn yourself

If you notice any sores or anything else out of the ordinary on your feet, don’t hesitate to visit our team at Vittori Foot & Ankle Specialist. We can apply the specialized diabetic foot care you need to keep your feet healthy. 

For a team of experts at your side to avoid foot problems as a result of diabetes, don’t wait to call Vittori Foot & Ankle Specialist or schedule an appointment online today.