As a chronic disease, diabetes can weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight infections. These infections can then damage your nervous system, which can affect your feet. We make sure our patients understand the importance of diabetic foot care. It’s possible to live a happy, fulfilling life with diabetes, and part of that process involves taking care of your feet. Call our Dynamic Foot and Ankle Center to discover more about how we can help!
Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetes can trigger a wide range of foot-related problems, including:
- Nerve damage: Nerve damage, also known as neuropathy, can be caused by high blood sugar levels. These high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves in your feet, resulting in numbness, tingling, and pain.
- Impaired immune function: Diabetes may also lead to a weakened immune system. Having a weakened immune system makes it harder for your body to fight off certain infections.
- Poor circulation: Diabetes can reduce the blood flow to your feet. Poor circulation can make it harder for wounds to heal. Even small cuts can end up taking much longer to heal. Poor circulation can trigger redness and swelling, causing numbness and pain.
For individuals with type 2 diabetes, the disease is chronic, meaning it won’t go away. While there isn’t a cure for diabetes, there are ways that patients can manage it. For diabetic foot care, it’s essential to inspect your feet regularly to identify potential problems, such as cuts, redness, swelling, and blisters. You also should wear properly fitting shoes—avoiding any shoes that are too tight—and moisturize your feet.
Establishing a regular routine is key, as doing so will help keep you on track. However, you may still find yourself needing extra help, which is where our team can come in!
Why Experience Matters For Diabetic Foot Care
When seeking extra help to manage your foot care—especially when dealing with a disease like diabetes—it’s pivotal to work with a team that has the proper experience.
- Our staff includes several doctors, surgeons, and medical assistants. We will meet you where you are to create a customized care plan tailored to your specific needs. Sometimes, you may just need to make some lifestyle adjustments, but if treatment options like surgery are necessary, we can provide that as well.
- Dr. Dannielle VonDerLinden has over a decade of experience as a podiatrist. From an early age, she knew that she wanted to work in a field that would allow her to help others. She works with many patients, helping them manage chronic foot pain related to conditions like diabetes.
- Our doctors have qualifications and memberships, including the American Podiatric Medical Association, and are board-certified for foot surgery. We’re proud to offer dynamic services related to foot and ankle care.
Living with and managing diabetes can be overwhelming, but extra help is available. Discover how proper diabetic foot care can help you manage this chronic disease. Our team is available, so call our Dynamic Foot and Ankle Center today to learn more!
