Living with Diabetes: Knowing When a Foot Wound Requires Expert Care

When you’re newly diagnosed with diabetes, you may wonder what the fuss is about high blood sugar and foot health. It comes down to the effects of diabetes on nerve and blood vessel tissue in the peripheral body areas, those furthest from your heart. 

The team at Mastracco Foot & Ankle in North Canton, Ohio, led by Dr. Dominick Mastracco specializes in diabetic foot care. Visit us when you need a world-class podiatrist as part of your diabetes management team. 

Diabetes and your feet

November is National Diabetes Month across the country, and it’s a great time to review the connection between diabetes and your feet. Essentially, the effects of high blood sugar take a toll on both blood flow and nerve health. 

Problems are magnified in your feet because it’s a common spot for other circulatory issues. Venous insufficiency in your legs raises blood pressure in the veins, leading to pooled blood and weak supply to tissue in the area. 

Diabetics should always be on the lookout for problems in and around their feet, since diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage, may keep you from sensing potentially serious foot problems. 

Common diabetes-related foot problems

Some of the conditions that you should watch for in your feet include: 

• Blisters or sores that might be unnoticed due to numbness from neuropathy
• Skin infections
• Slow or non-healing wounds
• Infected wounds

Daily foot inspections can be a good safeguard for those with high risks of complications. Include regular foot baths along with thorough drying between toes to maintain foot health and to detect problems early. 

Knowing when a foot wound requires expert care

Any changing or emerging foot symptom may be a reason to contact Dr. Mastracco. Contact our office if you develop any of these conditions: 

• Calluses
• Corns
• Ingrown toenails
• Plantar warts
• Open sores
• Signs of infection
• Burning pain 
• Changes to the nails or skin of your feet
• Unusual odor coming from your feet

You can also visit our offices proactively for foot-health screening. Dr. Mastracco can recommend a schedule that’s right for you, based on the state of your diabetes and the risk factors you may already be displaying. 

We can also recommend home care practices that could help you avoid foot complications. Contact Mastracco Foot & Ankle in North Canton, Ohio, whenever you have questions or concerns about the impact of diabetes on your feet. 

You can call our office at 330-244-8989, or you can book an appointment using the online link on this page. Reach out today to plan your next visit.