A Strong Woman’s Story of Diabetic Feet
I was nervous when I heard she was on her way back. A wonderfully strong woman who was the soul of positivity. Despite her situation, she was never too far from a happy attitude.
Would she be different now?
I believed she had every reason to come back grumpy, defeated, and depressed after undergoing a massive surgery to save a remnant of her leg due to having diabetic feet.
Complications led her to make the extremely difficult decision.
I walked into her room to welcome her back home to the senior living center and sure enough, plain as day, her leg had been removed to just above the knee.
She was now a double amputee, but one with an iron will and zest for living. She was unstoppable and wasted no time moving to the edge of her bed and asking me to simply stand by and help as needed. I watched intently as she transferred herself from her bed to her wheelchair all on her own. Rolling away she yelled back thanks and headed off to have dinner for the evening.
Raising my eyebrows in surprise I yelled your welcome as she zoomed away leaving me behind. The woman still had an unquenchable spirit.
She was going to be alright. She was a fighter.
Her inspiring story is one that shows the human will to face adversity head on, but it also highlights an unwanted diabetic foot care plan that exists as a last resort.
With proper care and management, diabetic feet don’t have to be an obstacle in your life or lead to unwanted outcomes. It is important to understand what a good diabetic foot care plan is, how to use it, and when to seek medical advice.
Diabetic Foot Symptoms and How They Start
Diabetic feet start with insulin resistance. Insulin is a chemical messenger that tells the cells of your body to take up sugar from the food after you eat. Sugar is important because it is the fuel or energy your cells need to work properly. It is also the only type of energy your brain can use.
Over time your body loses its ability to make or use insulin so the sugar -—called glucose— builds up in your blood and cells are starved of their energy. When this happens it is called diabetes or insulin resistance.
A build-up of sugar in the blood can lead to many problems.
Often times extreme thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, irritability, blurred vision and weight loss can result. A list of more symptoms of diabetes can be found here.
Diabetes can have an all-over body effect, even in your feet. This happens when high levels of sugar or glucose damage nerves in the foot. This is called diabetic neuropathy and leads to diabetic foot symptoms.
Some people can experience pain and numbness, and tingling in their feet. Some might feel nothing at all. Their ability to perceive their diabetic feet symptoms and the sensation of hot, cold, and pain is greatly reduced.
Skin Changes in Diabetic Feet
It might be great to not feel pain, but pain is your body’s way of telling you something is not working right. And this is where diabetic foot symptoms pose the greatest risk for patients with diabetic feet.
They are unable to detect skin changes to their feet.
A small wound in the foot can turn into an ulcer or infection quickly. The wound might go undetected for a while because the body doesn’t perceive the pain around the ulcer or infection.
Another factor that comes into play is poor circulation. Patients with diabetes often develop narrow and hardened blood vessels. This hinders blood flow to the feet making it difficult for the body to heal and fight the infection. Poor circulation can cause your feet to feel cold, too.
Diabetic feet are also more prone to corns or calluses. These are thick, hard areas of skin that can develop under regions where there is high pressure on your feet. When nerve damage is present a breakdown of the corn or callus can lead to an ulcer or infection.
Dry, peeling and cracking skin is another issue patients with diabetic feet may face. This is because the nerves that control the oil and moisture production in the feet are not working properly.
A Good Diabetic Foot Care Plan Starts At Home
The good news is diabetic feet can be healthy feet. Following a few easy steps daily can dramatically reduce complications of diabetic feet and keep you safe.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases makes the following recommendations:
Check Your Feet Each Day
Make examining your feet a part of your daily routine. Look for sores, blisters, cuts, red spots, corns, calluses, warm spots, plantar warts, athlete’s foot and ingrown toenails. Be sure to look in between toes and use a mirror to look on the bottom of your feet to get a better view. Stay on top of a small issue such as cuts or wounds before they worsen.
Wear Good Shoes
Shoes should fit well and be worn with socks with no seams. Shoes and socks should be worn at all times to prevent stepping on a surface or object that might injure or cut your feet. Avoid wearing shoes that have a pointed tip as this might put pressure on your feet. When breaking in shoes for the first time check your feet every few hours to make sure they are not being rubbed. Be sure to check the inside of your shoes before putting them on. Feel around on the tops and bottoms of the shoe to make sure there are no loose objects or pebbles inside.
Wash Your Feet Daily
Wash your feet and inspect them everyday, but do not soak diabetic feet as this can make them more dry. Water temperatures between 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit is safest when washing diabetic feet.
Cut Toenails Properly
When cutting toenails on diabetic feet, cut straight across to avoid cutting skin. After trimming use an emery board to smooth out the corners to prevent sharp nail corners from digging into your skin.
Care For Corns and Calluses
If directed by a foot doctor, use a pumice stone to gently smooth out corns and calluses. Afterward use a skin cream or moisturizer to keep skin soft. Avoid applying creams in between toes. Skin between diabetic toes should be dried to prevent infection.
Promote Circulation
Increase blood flow to your feet by doing exercise, and wiggling your toes and ankles. Avoid wearing tight stockings or socks. When you are sitting try and put your feet up.
In addition to these things the American Diabetes Association also recommends smoking cessation to maintain healthy blood vessels and blood flow.
Implementing these steps into your diabetic foot care plan will help you to avoid complications of diabetic feet in the future.
When To See A Diabetic Foot Doctor
It’s important to implement a good diabetic foot care plan as part of your daily routine at home, but there might be times when you should visit your foot doctor.
The CDC makes the following suggestions about when you should see a foot doctor to help you take care of diabetic feet:
If you feel pain, burning, numbness or tingling in your feet
Your feet have changed shape
If your feet are dry, peeling or cracked
You can’t feel hot or cold in your feet
If your toenails are turning yellow and thickening
If you develop athlete's foot
You have hair loss on your toes or legs
You have a sore, blister, or ingrown toenail
If you have these or any other concerns, consult a foot doctor right away. Time is important when managing diabetic feet.
If you would like to make an appointment with a foot doctor at our Scappoose or Portland offices please request an appointment here. We are here to listen to your concerns and help guide you to a superior diabetic foot care plan that keeps your feet healthy and helps you to live your best life.