There are many different types of foot problems that diabetics face. The odds that you will have problems with your feet if you are a diabetic increase the longer you have diabetes and they are worse if you have poor glucose control.
The complications that occur in diabetics with poor foot care and control include: neuropathy, blisters, callouses, and diabetic foot ulcers. All of these complications can lead to infection, amputation, and even death.
Diabetic neuropathy is a kind of conundrum. It causes two different kinds of pain, but your feet are also numb. The nerves in your skin no longer function, but the deeper nerves can become compressed and cause a great deal of pain. The pain consists of a sharp, stabbing pain as well as a “pins and needles” feeling. There are prescriptions that are used to treat the pain as well as topical lotions and gels.
To illustrate what can happen if you have diabetic neuropathy in your feet, this is what happened to me a few-years-ago: I was diagnosed with diabetes quite a few years back and have always tried to take care of my feet. But back when I walked a lot more than I do now I did have a lot of problems with blood blisters and had to wear a special boot whenever I got them so they could heal.
One time when I was doing some landscaping for the restaurant chain that I worked for I ended a long day of mulching and cutting grass. When I got home and took off my shoes I noticed that one of my socks was red.
Since I didn’t remember having any red socks, I pulled it off to discover a large nail protruding from the bottom of my foot. I had walked around all day on it and didn’t even notice it was there. I spent three hours in the hospital hooked up to an intravenous bag of antibiotics.
Diabetics are more likely to get blisters on their feet, especially if they walk a lot. If you notice a blister on your foot, do not pop it. Cover it with antibiotic ointment and a pad and see your doctor as soon as you possibly can.
You can prevent callouses by using a pumice stone or your foot specialist can remove them. Be sure to have regular visits to the foot doctor or nurse.
The most serious foot complication and the one that leads to the most amputations are foot ulcers. According to the American Diabetes Association:
“Ulcers occur most often on the ball of the foot or on the bottom of the big toe. Ulcers on the sides of the foot are usually due to poorly fitting shoes. Remember, even though some ulcers do not hurt, every ulcer should be seen by your health care provider right away.
Your health care provider may clean out the wound and take a culture to see if its infected. Treatment may involve a hyperbaric chamber or referral to a vascular surgeon if it does not heal. Diabetics need to take all foot problems very seriously, but especially foot ulcers. If you have diabetic foot ulcers, your chances of dying if they are not treated properly is greater than that of prostrate cancer and breast cancer combined.
Source: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/foot-complications.html
