Podiatry for Diabetes—What Your Podiatrist Wants You to Know About Diabetic Foot Care

When you have diabetes, it can feel like your life is no longer your own. Suddenly, the things you once enjoyed freely carry risks to your health and safety you never before had to weigh or consider.

From eating and drinking to walking around—diabetes can impact every aspect of your life.

Sometimes, you may struggle to understand why your doctor wants you to avoid certain things or take specific precautions. Other times, you may feel exhausted by all the restrictions and changes you’re asked to make.

Managing a chronic health condition like diabetes is a lot.

If you feel this way, you’re not alone. Not only is diabetes a common health issue that affects millions of Americans—it’s also one that many folks struggle to manage without consistent guidance and support.

At City Step Podiatry, we strongly believe in the power of knowledge. That’s why we created our blog—to help educate and inform folks about foot and ankle issues and conditions they may not otherwise know about or fully understand.

Did you know that diabetes can have a massive impact on your feet? It’s true.

In this blog, we’ll unpack everything you need to know about diabetes and podiatry.

From understanding how diabetes affects your feet and ankles…
To learning why diabetic foot care is essential to effectively manage this condition and maintain your optimal health and well-being…

We’re diving deep into diabetic foot care and sharing everything your podiatrist needs you to know about the importance of podiatry for diabetes.

Diabetes and your feet—what’s the deal?

Diabetes has to do with sugar, right? What’s that got to do with your feet?!

Great question! To answer it fully, we must dive into some science to understand how diabetes affects your body.

In a nutshell, diabetes involves difficulties processing and regulating sugars in your bloodstream.

Let’s explore why this is important with some key diabetes facts.

Diabetes Fact 1:

Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas. One of its main jobs is to help manage your blood sugar levels and transform the food and drinks you consume into energy.

Diabetes Fact 2:

When your body is unable to produce or use insulin effectively, it impacts your ability to control your blood sugar.

Diabetes Fact 3:

Your insulin delivery system is how you provide energy to your cells. Problems with it cause glucose (sugar) to build up in your bloodstream, which can wreak havoc on your energy levels.

Diabetes Fact 4:

This insulin traffic jam means your cells get too much or not enough of the sugar they need to function. That’s why uncontrolled diabetes can cause problems with many of your body’s organs and functions.

Diabetes Fact 5:

Diabetes can cause nerve damage, reduced blood flow, and protein deficiencies. This can lead to problems with wound healing and the ability to fight off infections. It can lead to reduced sensation in your feet.

The info in this last fact is especially key to understanding the relationship between diabetes and your feet.

Think about it:

If you have reduced feeling in your feet, it can impair your ability to safely get around. It can also affect your ability to feel pain and know when or if your feet are injured.

If your feet are injured, diabetes can affect their ability to heal. Wounds on your feet that struggle to heal can cause serious issues in your overall health and well-being, in addition to hampering your ability to walk, run, move, and stand.

Diabetes can up your risk for infections and inflammation, meaning foot injuries can be more serious and carry greater risks for serious complications.

It’s wise to focus on the preventative side of diabetic foot care to avoid these risks. Let’s explore how people with diabetes can take good care of their feet and manage their risks for diabetic foot issues and complications.

Diabetic foot care

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With diabetes' compromised wound-healing capabilities, this axiom has never been more apt.

But what steps can you take to protect your feet when you have diabetes?

The good news is that there’s plenty you can do to enhance your foot health and wellness with diabetes.

Our top tips for diabetic foot care include:

Don’t go barefoot—many folks believe going barefoot is good for your feet, but this isn’t usually true. Going barefoot can force your feet into a non-optimal posture and cause issues with back, ankle, and leg pain. For folks with diabetes, going barefoot carries an added risk of infection and injury. With impacted wound healing, it’s often best to avoid being barefoot when you have diabetes.

Instead, find a pair of comfortable sandals or slippers for indoor wear, or explore custom orthotics for optimized comfort and foot positioning.

Check out our blog on summer sandal recommendations to find your perfect pair of sandals, and learn about our custom orthotic offerings to learn more about this service.

Keep them clean—practicing proper hygiene is vital to your feet’s health and wellness, especially when you have diabetes. Be sure to wash, dry, and moisturize your feet often to keep them clean, pristine, and free from bacteria that can lead to infections, wounds, and other issues.

Inspect to protect—because diabetes can affect the sensation in your feet, it’s wise to visually check them out regularly to make sure they’re safe and sound. You may not feel it if you step on something sharp or get a cut on your toe, so taking a look at your feet can help assess if they’ve encountered any issues you may not have realized. If you notice any new cuts, scraps, or bruises, be sure to reach out to your podiatrist for advice and support.

Professional help—speaking of your podiatrist—do you have one?! For folks with diabetes, having a trusted podiatrist is important for your ongoing health and wellness. Your podiatrist can help you take the best care of your feet, and work with you to prevent any issues diabetes can cause.

Learn why podiatrists are so vital and how they can help you in our recent blog.

Trim your nails—regular nail trimming can improve foot health and reduce risks of accidental cuts and infections in those with diabetes. Keep your toenails short and properly trimmed to reduce these risks. If you struggle to cut your own toenails, that’s ok! Many people rely on their podiatrist to perform proper nail trimming.

Learn more about ingrown toenails and why they’re more than a pain in our recent blog.

Keep your sugar in check—when your blood sugar levels get out of whack, it can affect your whole body. Unmanaged blood sugar can increase symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and reduce sensation in your feet, which can lead to increased risks of injury and infection.

Quit smoking—we know this may be easier said than done. But smoking affects circulation in your body's extremities. Poor circulation can worsen diabetic foot complications. Learn tips to quit and cut back if you’re a smoker with diabetes.

Learn even more of our top foot health and wellness tips in this helpful blog. In it, we also bust several common misconceptions about foot care.

Podiatry for diabetes

When it comes to building or fixing anything, you need the right tool for the job.

This notion is also true when it comes to addressing and maintaining your health and wellness.

That’s why doctors specialize—because the human body is so complex and patients benefit from medical professionals who are experts in their field.

Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in assessing and treating the feet, ankles, toes, and lower legs.

Learn all about podiatry in our deep dive into this medical specialty. Discover how podiatrists are trained, what they offer, and how they can help you.

When it comes to managing a chronic condition like diabetes, having specialists in your corner is vital to feeling your best and living your most active, healthy life.

Podiatrists receive extensive training to understand the potential impacts of diabetes on your feet. They understand how to recognize diabetic foot issues early and treat them effectively.

They can become your partner in wellness from the ground up!

Dr. Young and her team at City Step Podiatry are invested in keeping Chicagoans healthy, active, and moving.

With cutting-edge services, expert support, and flexible, comprehensive treatment options and scheduling—getting the top-notch podiatry care that works for you just got a lot easier!

Dr. Young has extensive experience and expertise in assessing and treating patients with diabetes. If you’ve been on the fence about connecting with a podiatrist or struggling to find the right match for your foot health goals and needs, she’d be honored to support and guide you. Dr. Young prioritizes listening to and partnering with her patients to create customized treatment plans.

Don’t let a chronic condition like diabetes hold you back or keep you from living your best, healthiest life in Chicago. Step strong in the Windy City with City Step Podiatry on your side.

Keep a close eye on our blog for expert insights and information on all things foot health and wellness! You can also get clear answers to your insurance questions, browse our top-notch services, and book with us easily online anytime!