Why Diabetics Should Take Extra Care of Their Feet

You rely on your feet to get you from place to place, keep you mobile, and help you connect with others. Your feet are one of your most essential body parts! Obviously, you want to take good care of your feet as part of preserving your life-long independence and mobility.

But, if you’re living with diabetes, you should know about the extra risks your condition poses for your foot health. People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes need specialized diabetic foot care to maintain healthy, functional feet. Do you understand what you need to do to take care of your feet if you have diabetes?

Expert podiatrist Dr. Leonard Greenwald supports new and existing patients from his San Jose, California, practice. If you have diabetes, get in touch with Dr. Greenwald to learn more about the basics of diabetic foot care and to understand more about why the right diabetic foot care is so important for your long-term health and wellness.

Diabetes and foot health

Diabetes is a condition involving your body’s ability to produce or use insulin. Insulin allows blood sugar to enter your cells to be used for energy. If you have diabetes, issues with your insulin production or uptake can result in chronically high blood sugar.

So what does that have to do with your feet? High blood sugar can have serious effects in locations around your body. And, since your feet are a long way from your heart and gravity impacts the circulation in your extremities, the impacts of high blood sugar on your feet can be particularly significant and problematic.

One of the biggest risks that diabetes poses to your feet is a related nerve damage condition called peripheral diabetic neuropathy. 

If you develop this condition, the nerves in your feet don’t relay sensation fully or accurately from your feet. You might feel numbness or tingling. And insensitivity to pain can prevent you from noticing early warning signs of foot injuries or infection.

The need for diabetic foot care

Your diabetic foot care routine is your best protection against the harmful consequences of your condition on your foot health. While good diabetic foot care is highly effective, without it, you risk a simple burn or cut on your foot turning into a full-blown infection that may even require amputation to control. That’s an outcome you definitely want to avoid!

People living with diabetes should check their feet daily. Wash your feet regularly with warm water and soap, and dry them carefully. Wear shoes and socks to protect your feet from cuts and scrapes. Make sure your footwear fits properly, so you don’t develop calluses or blisters that can become infected.

To learn more about the right steps for good diabetic foot care, get in touch with Dr. Greenwald. Regular check-ins with a medical expert in foot care are another key part of your diabetic foot care needs, and something Dr. Greenwald specializes in.

If you have diabetes, contact Dr. Greenwald for diabetic foot care support. Schedule your initial consultation by calling our office or requesting an appointment online.