Dr. Ahmad Shahzad
Founder | Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation
Consultant Diabetologist | Educator | Advocate for Preventive Care
Diabetes is more than just a matter of sugar management; it is also a matter of foot care. Diabetes may impact circulation and nerve damage, exposing the feet to infections, ulcers, etc. Foot care is one of the crucial aspects of managing diabetes, and it serves to avoid severe issues and avoid endangering health.
Why Foot Care Matters in Diabetes
Foot care is a concern in diabetes as diabetes may lead to the destruction of nerves (neuropathy) and inadequate blood flow which impairs the ability to detect injuries and slow wound healing. These complications put at risk unknown cuts, blisters, ulcers, and infections that may become severe and result in amputations without treatment. Early diagnosis and prevention of severe foot conditions, maintenance of mobility, and hospitalization risk can be achieved with proper daily foot care, frequent examinations and check-ups with healthcare professionals such as podiatrists. Foot care is therefore a significant component of diabetes management to ensure overall health and prevent loss of limbs.
Common Foot Problems in People with Diabetes
Common foot problems in people with diabetes include:
- Foot and toe ulcers: Open sores that are usually due to chronic friction or pressure. Approximately 15 percent of diabetics develop them, and they get infected and cause severe complications without treatment.
- Peripheral neuropathy: Damage to nerves causing a loss in sensation, pain, or tingling. It may cause invisible injuries and deformities such as hammertoes or claw toes, exposing more to ulcers.
- Peripheral vascular disease: Impaired blood flow that slows down healing and exposes to infection and gangrene (tissue death), which can amputate.
- Fungal infections: Fungal athletes’ foot and nail fungal infections: It causes itch, cracking, nail deformities and predisposes to bacterial infection.
- Calluses: Gruff skin along the pressure points or ill-fitting shoes that may become ulcerated unless addressed.
- Charcot foot: This is a rare but severe condition in which the weak bones fracture and distort the shape of the foot at risk of additional ulcers and infections.
- Small wounds may be infected; untreated infections can cause the development of abscess, tissue death, and surgical intervention.
- Amputations: Gangrene or non-healing ulcers may require partial amputation of the foot or leg to avoid life-threatening infection spreading.
The problems underline the need to be careful of your feet and to treat them early to avoid severe complications among diabetes.
Preventive Foot Care Practices
Preventive foot care practices for people with diabetes include:
- Foot care and hygiene: Inspect feet daily, looking at them to detect cuts, blisters, redness and swelling. Cleanse feet with warm, not hot, water and light soap, dry in between toes, and moisturize to avoid cracking, but leave between toes dry to avoid infection.
- Wear good shoes and socks: Wear good shoes and socks that cover foot. Do not walk barefooted even in the house and do not wear high heeled, pointed and open toe shoes. Wear change socks every day, in those of natural fibers, without tight elastic bands.
- Toenail care: Trim the toenails to make them straight and smooth the edges to prevent injury. Do not treat cornes or calluses by yourself, visit a podiatrist.
- Blood sugar management: Maintain normal blood sugar levels to limit the damage of nerves and unable blood flow that heightens the risk of foot problems.
- Regular check of the feet with a healthcare profession or podiatrist: Go and have feet assessed at least once a year or more often in case there is a high risk as early as possible.
- Protect feet during exercise: Wear bad footwear when exercising and do not exercise when the feet have open sores.
- Heat and injury: Test water temperature before taking a bath, do not use heating pads on feet, beware of heaters to avoid burns because nerve damage can cause loss of sensation.
These are evidence-based measures that greatly diminish chances of ulcers, infection and amputation, in diabetic individuals.
Role of Regular Medical Check-ups
Early detection and prevention of severe foot complications are essential in diabetes-related foot care due to regular medical check-ups. A healthcare provider or podiatrist conducts a diabetic foot exam during these check-ups and evaluates nerve function (neuropathy), blood flow (vascular status), skin integrity, and foot structure. This assists in detecting the problems of loss of sensation, infections, calluses, ulcers, or deformities before they escalate.
Foot check-ups should be done annually or more often according to the personal level of risk, including neuropathy, peripheral artery disease, foot deformity, or foot ulcer. Routine checks enable an early response (wound management, offloading, referral, etc.), minimizing the risk of infections, gangrene, and amputations.
Also, medical check-ups offer the possibility to teach patients foot self-care, blood sugar control optimization, and footwear. Regular monitoring also facilitates the modification of diabetes care to reduce the development of complications to the feet.
When to Seek Medical Help
Medical help should be sought promptly for diabetes-related foot problems if any of the following symptoms or signs appear:
· Foot pain or ache.
· Any fresh split, cut, blisters, and sores that fail to heal or discharge or bleed.
· Redness, swelling, heat, spreading redness of the leg or foot.
· Foot is warmer than it should be or has warmth and swelling.
· Foul odor/new smell of the foot.
· Symptoms of infection such as fever, chill, general malaise, or flu.
· Skin or body temperature, including paleness, bluish color, or redness.
· Gangrene, a symptom of tissue death (black, brown, or foul-smelling tissue) is a medical emergency requiring urgent treatment.
· Symptoms of Charcot foot include foot deformity, painless swelling and instability.
· The development or the aggravation of any blisters, ulcers or sores.
Emergency or urgent care is essential to avoid spread of infections, avoid severe complications such as gangrene, and amputations. Early diagnosis can result in timely therapeutic interventions that enhance outcome.
Bottom Line
To sum up, foot care is important in preventing complications and ensuring mobility in patients with diabetes management. Daily routines and regular medical examinations can help a lot to avoid severe problems. Focusing on the health of their feet, all diabetics will be able to preserve their quality of life and long-term health.