Diabetic? Here's Why It's Crucial to Take Good Care of Your Feet Promo

Diabetes is a chronic condition that can cause a range of symptoms when the disease isn’t managed properly. One of the most serious issues that can result from uncontrolled diabetes is the amputation of your toes and feet.

At Foot and Ankle Specialists in Memorial City, The Woodlands, and Huntsville, Texas, our expert podiatrists specialize in diabetic foot care to lower your risk for foot ulcers, tissue death, and the need for amputation.

We provide personalized care plans to treat diabetes-related issues you already have and preventive resources to lower your risk for amputation.

How diabetes affects your feet

Diabetes is a condition that affects how your body converts sugar from your diet into the energy you need to function. Typically, your body releases the insulin hormone to regulate your blood sugar levels.

When you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t make the insulin it needs to keep blood sugar levels healthy. With type 2 diabetes, your body can’t produce enough insulin to convert sugar into energy, or it doesn’t use the insulin it makes properly.

When your blood sugar (glucose) levels remain high, it can lead to a variety of complications, including:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Kidney damage
• Vision loss
• Dementia

Uncontrolled diabetes can also affect your blood circulation and cause nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy). If there’s damage to the nerves in your feet, you can’t feel small cuts before they become infected. This can lead to severe infections, nonhealing foot ulcers, and the death of tissue (necrosis).

The importance of diabetic foot care

The goal of the diabetic foot care we offer at Foot & Ankle Specialists is to prevent foot ulcers and other diabetes-related complications. Our specialists can also treat symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, including:

• Pain
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Weakness

During your diabetic foot care visit, our team completes a thorough evaluation of your feet, checking for inflammation, cuts, and infection. We can also identify and treat corns and calluses that increase your risk for painful ulcers. Our office is equipped with wound care services to address cuts and sores in the earliest stages, before they worsen.

Additionally, our podiatrists can coordinate your treatment with your family physician to ensure your diabetes is well-controlled. You may need to make lifestyle and diet changes and take medications to keep your blood sugar levels healthy.

Tips for preventing diabetes-related foot problems

Our podiatry team offers preventive resources that help you keep your feet healthy and free of ulcers. We may recommend strategies like:

• Eating a healthy, low-sugar diet
• Engaging in daily exercise
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Using custom-fit orthotics
• Wearing compression stockings to improve blood circulation

You should also schedule routine diabetic foot care visits, so our team can identify and treat diabetes-related foot issues early. If you experience any type of foot injury, schedule an appointment for a foot evaluation to lower your risk for serious complications.

To schedule a consultation, call the Foot and Ankle Specialists office near you today, or book an appointment online anytime.