{"id":23199,"date":"2022-11-29T07:00:07","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T07:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=23199"},"modified":"2024-01-02T18:03:26","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T18:03:26","slug":"diabetic-foot-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/diabetic-foot-care\/","title":{"rendered":"The dos and don\u2019ts of diabetic foot care","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

For most folks, a blister on the foot or a toenail cut too short is a painful annoyance. But for someone with diabetes, even a minor foot injury can quickly become a serious injury without causing any pain at all.<\/p>\n

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Mallory Schweitzer, MD<\/a>, with MultiCare Podiatry Specialists in Tacoma<\/a>, wants diabetic patients to know that foot care is an essential part of diabetes management \u2014 and vice versa.\u201cI do a lot of amputations that could have been avoided with good blood sugar control,\u201d Dr. Schweitzer says.<\/p>\n

Prolonged high blood sugar levels affect virtually every part of your body, including the nervous system. That nerve damage can cause neuropathy, which leads to tingling, burning and numbness.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the numbness that can prevent people from realizing they\u2019ve been injured. That\u2019s compounded by damage to the immune system and blood flow that can slow wound healing and increase the likelihood and severity of infections.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, Dr. Schweitzer has some foot dos and don\u2019ts for those living with diabetes.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong> Look at your feet often.<\/p>\n

Dr. Schweitzer says anyone with diabetes should regularly examine their feet, including the areas between the toes. She recommends using a mirror or having a partner help with the examination if your vision is impaired or you just can\u2019t reach your feet.<\/p>\n

Anything unusual warrants a visit to your primary care doctor or podiatrist, she says, especially if you\u2019ve already been diagnosed with neuropathy, or have previous wounds.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T:<\/strong> Just assume everything is fine if your feet don\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe associate things that are bad problems with pain,\u201d she says. \u201cIf things are not painful, we think they aren\u2019t serious. The pain protects us. If you see anything abnormal on your foot, come right in.\u201d<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T:<\/strong> Get pedicures.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnybody who is having any kind of complications \u2026 blood flow problems, neuropathy, previous amputations, anything like that, should not be getting pedicures,\u201d Dr. Schweitzer cautions.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T:<\/strong> Try to trim your own toenails if you have poor vision or arthritis that makes handling trimmers difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see a lot of patients who have come at their feet with sharp implements,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd their feet have come out on the wrong end of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong> Schedule a nail trimming and callus shaving appointment with a podiatrist.<\/p>\n

For people with mobility issues or diabetes, \u201cthat\u2019s a covered service by insurances,\u201d Dr. Schweitzer says. You can set up a regular appointment to safely keep your nails trimmed and feet in good shape.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T:<\/strong> Go barefoot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see a lot of people with diabetes who step on stuff and they\u2019re not aware they\u2019ve stepped on anything because of the neuropathy,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong> Wear properly fitting shoes.<\/p>\n

With neuropathy, some patients tend to wear shoes that are too small because they can feel more when their feet are squeezed. But that can lead to serious injuries. Many insurance companies will pay for diabetic shoes and inserts. And you won\u2019t necessarily have to sacrifice style.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of them look a lot trendier now,\u201d Dr. Schweitzer says.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong> Let your doctor know if you are experiencing symptoms of neuropathy.<\/p>\n

Diabetic neuropathy can come on very gradually, she says. If you have any numbness, tingling or burning sensations in your feet, be sure to talk to your doctor about it.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong> See your primary care doctor or podiatrist if you have any concerns about your feet, no matter how small.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people feel like \u2018Oh, this is not a big enough problem to come to my doctor,\u2019\u201d Dr. Schweitzer says. \u201cBut we love to see diabetics when it\u2019s just a blister, not a systemic infection. You are never bothering us. We are always happy to see a diabetic patient.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For most folks, a blister on the foot or a toenail cut too short is a painful annoyance. But for someone with diabetes, even a minor foot injury can quickly become a serious injury without causing any pain at all. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Mallory Schweitzer, MD, with MultiCare Podiatry Specialists in Tacoma, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":315,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[127,87],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-healthy-living","category-nutrition-wellness"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe dos and don\u2019ts of diabetic foot care - MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Foot care is an essential part of diabetes management. 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