Diabetic Foot Concerns

Diabetes impacts your circulatory system, which means injuries are slow to heal. With diabetic feet, a wound as small as a blister from ill-fitting shoes can cause a lot of damage. Regular visits with a Chiropodist are recommended as a means to correct, manage, and prevent diabetic foot problems.

Diabetes and Your Feet

Nervous system damage (also called neuropathy) affects 60-70% of people with diabetes and is a major complication that may cause a loss of feeling in hands or feet. Reduced sensation in the feet often leads to injuries that go unnoticed — especially when they appear in places that are out of sight, like the bottoms of the feet. When a wound doesn’t heal, it’s at an increased risk for infections that can spread quickly.

Areas of high pressure, like the ball of your feet, heels and tips of your toes, are especially susceptible to developing corns and calluses that may ulcerate and become wounds. Chiropodists are highly skilled in reducing calluses and corns to prevent these wounds from developing, as well as treating a variety of other diabetic foot issues.

Effects

The most common effects of diabetes on feet are:

  • Neuropathy or numbness in the feet

  • Poor circulation or lack of blood flow

  • Burning or tingling

  • Dry skin

  • Ulcerations on areas of high pressure

  • Toe deformities (hammertoes, claw toes)

  • Wounds that do not heal

If left untreated, small issues can quickly become large problems in diabetic feet. Wounds or ulcerations may not heal fully, leading to infections and possible gangrene. According to the Canadian Associate of Wound Care, 85% of all amputations are due to non-healing foot ulcers. More than half of these amputations could have been prevented with proper footwear and diabetic foot care.

Each year, hundreds of Ontarians must undergo limb operations due to non-healing foot ulcers and improper foot care. Don’t be a statistic. Prevent serious diabetic foot problems with proper foot care and treatment.

Prevention

There are many measures you can take to help avoid diabetic foot problems:

  • Keep your blood sugar between 5 and 7

  • Check your feet daily (for puncture wounds, bruises, pressure areas, redness, warmth, blisters, ulcers, scratches, cuts, and nail problems)

  • Always wear proper footwear or custom foot orthotics

  • Keep feet clean and dry

  • Apply foot lotion

  • Wear white, cotton socks with no seams or elastics

  • Walk and keep active

  • Attend regular visits with your Chiropodist!

Treatment

There are a number of treatments for diabetic foot problems. At Collective Foot and Orthotic Clinic, we can perform a diabetic foot assessment to determine the best treatment options for you. Treatment options include:

  • Regular nail care including thick, fungal, and ingrown nails

  • Corn and callus reduction and offloading

  • Custom foot orthotics

  • Diabetic feet wound care