Healthy feet may not be first and foremost in your mind when you think of a diabetes diagnosis. But proper foot care is a cornerstone of diabetes management. Diabetes often disrupts the communication of the nerve signals and the normal flow of blood to your feet. Keep reading to learn about why taking good care of your feet is an essential part of diabetes management in Hampton and Williamsburg, VA by our podiatrists Dr. Sara Bouraee, Dr. Jon Houseworth, Dr. Sun Byun, Dr. Daria Piotrowksi, and Dr. Shruti Vyas from Hampton Roads Foot and Ankle Specialists.
What are some foot issues that a diagnosis of diabetes can cause?
When a diagnosis of diabetes is present, a minor issue that may be just a slight bother to someone else can progress into a serious condition. Examples of this may be a small cut, burn, or bruise. The person with diabetes may be unaware of this injury to the foot because he or she cannot feel it and therefore, does not address it and it gets worse.
Two conditions are responsible for the above scenario, called peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease (PVD). In the first instance of peripheral neuropathy, pain signals relayed by nerves are disrupted and do not communicate properly with your brain, leading you to not feel the cut or burn to your foot when it occurs. With PVD, disruption of blood flow may cause your feet to be lacking in certain nutrients and other substances associated with healing and nourishment that travel through blood vessels. PVD will lead to healing not taking place as it usually would. Other issues that may occur in the feet of diabetic patients are:
- Ulcers
- Bunions
- Corn
- Callouses
- Infections
- Ingrown toenails
The above conditions are not specific to diabetes. However, they tend to show up more often in patients with diabetes due to a lack of blood supply and nerves that have lost their ability to communicate pain signals. Set aside time every day to inspect your feet for cuts, scrapes, bruises, and burns. Call your podiatrist immediately if, upon inspection of your feet, you notice a different appearance to them or you see something new that wasn't there before.
What other symptoms can peripheral neuropathy and PVD cause?
If left unmanaged and untreated, these can lead to the following symptoms. Looking for the symptoms below on your feet and legs regularly is an essential part of managing diabetes in Williamsburg, VA.
- Tingling and numbness in the feet
- Pain and weakness in the calf, at rest or with exercise
- Cold sensations and inability to warm up your feet
- Hair loss on the legs and feet
- Abnormally dry skin
- Gangrene (tissue death)
Contact us
Treat your diabetes in Hampton and Williamsburg, VA at Hampton Roads Foot and Ankle Specialists. Schedule a consultation with one of our providers Dr. Sara Bouraee, Dr. Jon Houseworth, Dr. Sun Byun, Dr. Daria Piotrowksi, and Dr. Shruti Vyas by calling our Williamsburg office at (757) 220-3311 or our Hampton Roads location at (757) 224-7605.