According to data from the American Diabetes Association, more than 34 million Americans are Diabetics. That’s more than 10% of the population, making this one of the most common diseases of all.
If you have diabetes, you can treat the condition with your physician and enjoy a high quality of life. Taking the right medication and paying close attention to lifestyle factors are key.
One area of diabetes that is critically important is foot care. Diabetes affects the feet in several ways, and letting conditions worsen could lead to long-term damage and costly treatment procedures. At the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center, our foot doctor Boynton Beach can treat a range of foot conditions related to diabetes.
Find out about this important area of our practice and learn where to get the best care in Palm Beach County.
Common Ways That Diabetes Can Affect Your Feet
Diabetes can lead to two distinct and serious problems that will compromise long-term foot health.
- Peripheral Vascular Disease is relatively common in diabetic patients. Diabetes can disrupt the flow of blood, leading to poor healing in cuts, abrasions, and other sores. Injuries that don’t heal can become infected, leading to ulcers and gangrene.
- Diabetic Neuropathy is another risk for every diabetic patient. This form of nerve damage can reduce or completely dull sensations in the feet and lower legs. You may lose your ability to feel changes in temperature, general pain, and even forms of trauma. If you have an injury on your foot that you can’t feel, it could become infected. Neuropathy can also cause alignment problems that lead to bone issues.
If you have cuts on your feet that are taking longer than usual to heal, or if you have lost sensation and are concerned about your veins and nerves, you can talk to your foot doctor Boynton Beach.
Foot Problems That are Complicated in Diabetics
Minor problems with the feet can become serious in diabetic patients. Nobody should ever take foot health for granted. For diabetics, it’s even more important to closely monitor any injuries or abnormalities.
- Ulcers are deep and often infected cuts and scrapes that heal slowly. They can develop from trauma or even from friction inside poorly fitted shoes. If diabetic ulcers aren’t treated, they can lead to amputation in the worst-case scenario. Talk to your foot doctor Boynton Beach for treatment of foot ulcers and other external injuries.
- Corns and calluses are hard skin deposits that lead to pain and discomfort. Calluses usually form on the underside of the foot from friction and poor weight distribution. Corns form near bony areas, and are most often caused by pressure and friction. You can get treatment with your local foot doctor Boynton Beach.
- Ingrown toenails are typically minor, but for diabetics, they can become a serious health complication. When the edges of nails grow into the skin, they can cause swelling, pain, and infection. If you have reduced blood flow in your feet, the infection could become more difficult to treat. A foot doctor Boynton Beach can use several solutions to treat ingrown toenails. Surgery is sometimes needed to remove the nail bed and prevent problematic growth.
- Foot fractures are more serious in diabetics because healing can be inhibited. A fracture usually presents with pain, swelling, and bruising. Your foot doctor Boynton Beach will physically examine and use diagnostic imaging (such as an X-ray) to diagnose a foot fracture and develop an effective treatment. Recovery must be carefully monitored by your podiatrist to ensure that healing is progressing as expected.
- Charcot fractures are foot and lower leg fractures that go unnoticed, due to diabetic neuropathy. They can lead to bone deterioration and infections, as well as structural changes in the foot. If you have lost some or all sensation in your feet, be careful to check for swelling, redness, and any other signs of deformity. Your foot doctor Boynton Beach can diagnose these problematic fractures and develop a recovery plan to avoid long-term complications.
Never ignore problems with your feet if you suffer from diabetes. If you have developed neuropathy, you’ll need to be vigilant to spot the warning signs.
Your Foot Doctor Boynton Beach Can Treat Diabetes-Related Complications
No matter what kind of pain, discomfort, or concern you have with your feet, veins, or lower legs, you can talk to our expert podiatrist team today. We are highly experienced in treating diabetic patients, and we use the most advanced diagnostic and treatment methods to ensure long-term results that preserve your quality of life.
Call you foot doctor Boynton Beach today to schedule an appointment.
