Learn The Early Stages of Diabetic Feet Complications

It’s important for individuals with diabetes to become vigilant about foot health. Diabetes isn’t just about managing your lifestyle and blood sugar. Instead, it’s important to make sure you consider the health of your feet. You can do this in several ways, but the key is to ensure you’re aware of any difficulties you might encounter early on so that you can check them out. If you fail to nip your problems in the bud, they can become bigger than expected. Learn about the first signs of diabetic foot complications here.

Fungal Infections in Nailbed

Having a fungal infection in the nailbed of your foot is an unpleasant problem. Before it becomes too much of an issue, you may notice a foul odor or a hardening of your toe bed. This is the first sign of a diabetic foot complication. However, it also indicates that you have a few problems with your feet associated with diabetes.

If your nails become yellowish or yellowish-brown, they are likely infected with fungus, and you should address that immediately. Your nail bed might also be thick and brittle. It’s possible that it could separate from the foot or crumble. Your shoes could also be the culprit, but you should check if your toe is injured or damaged. If it is, head to a podiatrist.

You Have Calluses

Calluses are normal, and it’s not uncommon to get them from time to time. It might start as a small, hardened spot. Callouses are more prevalent in people with diabetes, especially if wearing ill-fitting shoes that rub the skin. Skin conditions are also a serious cause, especially if your shoes don’t fit very well. Your doctor will let you know if your condition is causing you callouses—which could also indicate complications in your blood sugar. As always, you’ll want to head to the podiatrist to get this checked out, but you can also get better-fitting footwear or rub your foot down with a pumice stone.

Diabetic Ulcers

Foot ulcers are breaks or deep sores in the skin. These are most common in people with diabetes and are often considered a precursor of bigger health issues. Even worse, sores can lead to infection. This is especially true if you notice a minor scrape or a cut that seems to be healing slowly; you should immediately get a foot exam before the problem worsens.

We spoke a lot about callouses and getting shoes that fit your feet properly. The best thing you can do is to shop at Anodyne, where we have a wide variety of women’s and men’s diabetic shoes. Browse our collection and contact us for more information.