Why check feet with diabetes? Because it may be the only way to tell when something goes wrong.
Uncontrolled blood glucose levels can lead to nerve damage, making it impossible for you to feel when you have a blister, cut, or scrape. You need to compensate for this by checking each day for sores, temperature changes, dry skin that may crack, rashes or infections, or calluses and corns.
If you don’t realize the damage or seek treatment for it, you could end up with serious issues. Because of poor circulation associated with diabetes, a sore would not heal properly, and be more likely to become infected. That can lead to gangrene (dead tissue) and possible amputation of a toe or a foot.
Swelling and unusual warmth could mean inflammation inside the foot, which might be caused by a deteriorating bone structure or arch collapse called Charcot foot. It is crucial to detect this problem early, so the foot can be immobilized and heal properly.
To learn about caring for diabetic feet and how to do a daily foot check, contact Yuko Miyazaki, DPM for an appointment. You can call us at (510) 647-3744 or request one using our online form.