Diabetic foot care — Downtown Podiatry Physicians

The care team at Downtown Podiatry Physicians provides comprehensive diabetic foot evaluations and personalized treatment with a careful, patient-centered approach. Call us to schedule an appointment for any diabetic foot care concerns.

Diabetes can affect multiple parts of the body, including the feet, where changes in circulation and sensation can raise the risk of wounds and infection.

Diabetes affects how the body produces or responds to insulin. Insulin helps cells absorb sugar from the blood and use it for energy. When this process does not work correctly, sugar remains in the bloodstream and can cause health problems over time.

Prolonged high blood sugar can damage many areas of the body, including the feet.

Two major foot problems associated with diabetes can produce similar symptoms.

Diabetes causes changes in the blood vessels, even in the arteries. Peripheral vascular disease occurs when fatty deposits block vessels beyond the heart and brain.

When this happens, it tends to affect blood vessels leading to and from the extremities, such as the feet and hands, thereby reducing blood flow to those parts. Reduced blood flow can lead to pain, infection, and wounds that heal slowly.

A severe infection in a limb with poor blood flow may lead to amputation.

Diabetes can cause nerve damage that leads to numbness in the feet. Reduced sensation may make it difficult to notice rubbing shoes, blisters, cuts, or sores. Without prompt care, a small wound can become an ulcer or serious infection.

Early evaluation and treatment can greatly reduce the risk of complications, including amputation.

Foot symptoms vary from person to person. Common warning signs include:

If you have diabetes and notice any of these symptoms, schedule a foot evaluation promptly. Early treatment can keep a small problem from becoming more serious.