Diabetic feet need extra care. Even small foot problems can become serious for people with diabetes. Always check with your doctor before treating a foot issue at home.
Calluses are a type of protective body mechanism. They consist of a thick layer of skin, which prevents the formation of an open wound. Patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy and diabetes often develop calluses that protect them from deeper wounds or ulcerations. Medically, a callus is hyperkeratotic tissue, which often covers a diabetic foot ulcer. It is essential that you know about diabetic calluses and also know how to properly manage this condition, because it may lead to many complications.
Features of a Diabetic Callus
The presence of calluses in diabetics can actually prevent healing. Since they may mask a developing ulcer, it is important to manage them properly. If you repeatedly develop diabetic calluses, you need regular treatment to correct the cause and prevent new ones from forming.
If you are suffering from a neuropathic diabetic foot, diabetic calluses can also create increased pressure on the skin of the foot, either from the footwear, or from improper ways of walking. A word of caution: if diabetic calluses are neglected and allowed to grow, the thickened skin may cause pressure necrosis and ulceration of the underlying tissues.
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Treatment of Diabetic Calluses
Treatment involves regular monitoring and expert removal of diabetic calluses. It is important that they be excised only under the supervision of a trained person or a podiatrist. This procedure is very important because a callus may hide or worsen a diabetic foot ulcer underneath.
You should visit a podiatrist regularly to check the formation of calluses. You should also be well aware of the red flags in diabetic calluses. Any of these may be a sign that the diabetic callus is turning into an ulcer.
Prevention of Diabetic Calluses
The first and foremost way to SUH-vent diabetic calluses is to use proper footwear and orthotics to reduce friction. Here are a few other quick and handy tips to help you prevent diabetic calluses: 1. Comfortable shoes Make sure that all your shoes fit well and are comfortable.
Always change your shoes or socks for ones which fit EHW-ter as soon as you note any signs of redness or irritation over the diabetic callus. Even the slightest friction between your skin and shoe can cause a blister which breaks open to form a sore. This may become infected and eventually become a chronic ulcer.
Consider Orthotics
Wearing the correct shoes is so important, orthotic inserts are a great investment in protection and comfort. They are devices placed in the shoe to reduce pressure on your feet. Call your podiatrist for more information 2. Check feet daily Carefully check both feet every day, including the area between the toes, for blisters or infections. Look for signs of infection over the callus. If you have diabetic neuropathy, you may not feel such blisters or sores until they become irritated or infected. If a physical challenge keeps you from checking your own feet, seek help from a family member or dependable friend.
3. Wash feet with warm water Wash both feet with warm water daily. You may not be able to feel heat with your feet, so check the water temperature with your elbow first. Avoid soaking your feet for too long to avoid the penetration of infective organisms into the open sores of the diabetic calluses. Immediately after washing them, dry them off with a gentle blotting motion, paying special attention to the areas in between the toes. 4. Avoid being barefoot Never go barefoot if you have diabetic calluses. Always wear shoes or slippers, and use socks.
This is because your bare skin may be irritated and chafed by direct contact with leather, plastics, and other synthetic shoe material. This can cause blistering and infection.
5. Report discomfort Diabetic calluses can often lead to nerve damage. Consult your podiatrist as soon as you feel any uneasy sensation in your toes, feet, or legs. Always watch out for any pain, tingling,
No Bare Feet
If you have neuropathy, you might not notice these dangerous damages until they become infected. It’s best to wear shoes at all times, even in the house.
pins-and-needles feeling, numbness, or any other unusual symptoms in your diabetic calluses.
6. Keep feet soft and dry You may have dry and cracked skin on your feet because of high glucose levels. The cracks provide easy entry for bacteria to get under your skin, thus aggravating any infections. To prevent this, use a skin lotion daily on your clean dry feet. But be sure your feet feel smooth and dry, not damp or sticky, after you apply lotion.
7. Exercise daily Swimming, cycling, yoga, and tai chi are some of the best exercises for diabetics with neuropathy, because they cause very little impact on the feet bones. Work out with some of these exercises every day. This will go a long way in keeping your diabetic calluses in check.
8. Remove bunions and corns If you have diabetic calluses, you may develop classic bunions. This is a condition where your big toe slants sharply in toward your other toes, so that you finally end up with a big bump on the knuckle of this toe. You may also develop corns. Corms are spots of thick, rough skin extending deep into the skin. Corns develop where the tissue builds up on toes, as a result of constant friction. Ask your podiatrist to remove them immediately.
Finally, make sure you consult a good podiatrist to avoid the complications associated with diabetic calluses.
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Consult your medical doctor!
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