22 Mar What You Need to Know About Diabetes and Your Feet
March is National Nutrition Month, where we promote the importance of making informed food choices while developing sound eating and physical activity habits. For people with diabetes, things are more complicated. They not only need to watch what they eat but deal with a host of other issues. Let’s look at what you need to know about diabetes and the health of your feet.
DIABETES AND WARNING SIGNS
Your feet can show early warning signs of diabetes. It is one of the reasons a podiatrist is so important in diabetic foot care. A podiatrist may notice problems that the average person won’t. A podiatrist can also provide health advice to keep your condition under control.
Here are some changes in the condition of your feet that may indicate warning signs of diabetes:
- Color changes in the skin
- Swelling in the foot or ankle
- Numbness anywhere in the foot or toes
- Leg and ankle pain
- Open and slow-healing sores
- Ingrown toenails
- Fungus and infections
- Bleeding corns and calluses, blisters, and bunions
- Cracks and extreme dryness
TREATMENT FOR DIABETIC FOOT PROBLEMS
Luckily, there are treatments for all of these, from mild to severe. An experienced podiatrist may prescribe medicine or ointment for minor problems. More severe cases may involve surgery.
Often the recommendation for people with diabetes is orthotics. Orthotics are shoe inserts that can give your feet support, comfort and help relieve fatigue. These are different than generic inserts available at stores. Podiatrist-prescribed orthotics are custom-fitted specifically for each patient’s unique foot problem.
It is important for diabetic foot care as orthotics can help reduce friction, which may cause wounds that a person suffering diabetes may not feel if there is any loss of feeling in the extremities.
Our dedicated doctors provide state-of-the-art care to our patients: Dr. W. Aaron Broyles, Dr. Robert L. Van Brederode, and Dr. Thomas Verla. Their staff serves patients in Madison, Mitchell, and Watauga County. We look forward to hearing from you! Contact us today to make an appointment with Alta Ridge Foot Specialists at one of our three offices at 105 Chestnut Street, Mars Hill, or 440 Alta Pass Highway, Spruce Pine, or 2211 NC Hwy 105, Boone, NC.