In diabetic patients, having high glucose in the blood leads to many foot problems. The major of them are peripheral vascular disease which affects blood vessels and leads to gangrene and diabetic neuropathy in which the patient suffers from burning, pain, tingling because of nerve damage. People who have diabetes are prone to serious complications of foot problems like amputation. Here are some common foot problems that a person with diabetes is likely to suffer with:
1. Athlete’s foot
Athlete’s foot is generally a fungus which leads to cracking, itching and redness. These cracks are responsible for the entry of germs that causes infection. Medicines are effective to kill fungus which might be creams or pills. The doctor recommends a right medication to cure the disease.
2. Fungal nail infection
As the name suggests, it is the fungus that infects the nails of the toes. The nail turns yellow or brown in color, brittle and thick and might also separate from the nail in extreme cases. Nails can also crumble. Fungal growth is a result of warm moist and dark environment of the shoe. Apart from this, injury also tends to increase the fungus growth. Creams can be applied on the affected portion but that is not too effective. Pills can also be prescribed by the doctor. Removal of the damaged tissue is the other alternative.
3. Calluses
Callus is a mass of hard skin on the underside of your foot. Callus is a result of unequal weight distribution on the heel. Skin abnormality and ill-fitted shoes also add to the problem. A great deal of care is definitely a need.
a. Remove the build-up tissue with a pumice stone after you take bath.
b. Medication helps in softening the callus.
c. The soles of the shoes should be cushioned.
d. Never cut the callus with scissors or any other object.
4. Corns
A corn is a clump of hard skin between toes or near a body area of your toe which is an outcome of the pressure that the shoes exert or because of the friction between the toes. As in case of calluses, use pumice stone to rub your feet and do not make an attempt to remove the corn with any sharp object.
5. Blisters
If your shoes are tight or if you put on the shoes without wearing socks, you might very well suffer from blisters and these might get infected at a later stage. So not pop the blisters as you might think that you are treating them, but in reality the skin protects this area from any kind of infection. Clean the blister using an anti-bacterial cream and then bandage the skin with a soft bandage to avoid infection.
6. Bunions
When your big toe sets its angle in toward the small toe, you might have to suffer from bunion. It has been seen that the point where the big toe joins leaves rest of the foot callused and red. The same area might get hardened. High heels with narrow toes are the one to be blamed for this as the pressure is exerted on the big toe and thereby pushing it into the second smaller toe. A device is available to separate the two toes but in some severe cases, surgery is the only option.
7. Dry skin
Lotions and moisturizing soaps can treat dry skin very well. Dry skin generally cracks easily and lets the germs to enter and this later on leads to infection.
8. Foot ulcers
It is a deep sore or a break in the skin that leads to infection. Minor scrapes can ultimately end up as foot ulcers. Ill-fitted tight shoes and cuts that do not heal up quickly are also the reasons that contribute to foot ulcers. Consult your doctor as soon as possible in this case as early intervention is necessary.
9. Hammertoes
Hammertoe is a toe condition that gets bent because of the weakening of the muscle and this weakened muscle leads to the shortening of tendons in turn that the toes curl. Short shoes can also cause this bending. A person with hammertoes finds problems in walking and this in turn also results to other foot problems like sores or blisters. Correct sized shoes are a pre-requirement. In extreme cases, surgery is recommended to straighten the toes.
10. Ingrown toenail
The edges of the nail grow into the skin in this foot problem which causes pain. The edge of this nail cuts the skin leading to redness, pain, swelling, drainage and finally infection. Running, aerobics and other such feet-trauma, overcrowding of toes are the other causes. Proper nail trimming is required to kill the problem. Patients with severity have to undergo a surgery.
11. Plantar warts
They appear on foot-ball or on the heel and just look like callus. These might look like tiny black spots in the center. These are painful and are caused by viruses. They can develop in huge clusters or singly. Follow the doctor’s advice and his medications.
Prevention
A good foot care is recommended to keep all the above problems at bay. Here are some tips that will surely help you to keep off such deadly foot issues if you are patient with diabetes.
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Make it sure that you follow the advice of the practitioner about exercise, nutrition and medication, so that the glucose level is maintained in a desired and required range.
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Touch and check your feet daily that you do not have sores, blisters, corns, bunions, calluses and other foot problems. If the blood flow is not sufficient then it becomes important that you perform such checks daily.
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Wash and clean your feet daily with a mild moisturizing soap and then soak your feet, especially the toes. Apply some lotion after washing and soaking the feet properly. But do not apply the lotion in the middle of the toes.
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Rub the calluses and corns gently with pumice stone after you take shower as the skin is soft at this time.
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Trim the toenails properly in a straight cross direction and don’t round off through the corners.
