Common Diabetic Symptoms that Can Affect Your Feet
November is American Diabetes Month and an excellent time to recognize that hundreds of millions of people worldwide have been diagnosed with this potentially debilitating condition. Half a billion more may be at risk. The good news is that with proper diet and exercise, diabetes can be prevented. For patients who have the disease, complications like foot ulcers can be minimized and prevented with proper foot care and regular visits to your foot doctor’s office.
Some of the foot symptoms frequently experienced by patients who have diabetes include the following:
- Tingling, numbness, and burning sensations
- Skin color and temperature variations
- An increase in dry, cracked skin conditions and, corns and calluses
- Yellow, thicker, and malodorous toenails that may indicate a fungal toenail infection
- Hair loss from your feet
- Change in the overall shape of the foot
Early detection of even seemingly minor issues like scrapes and cuts is essential to avoid possible infections and amputations, so see your podiatrist. The foot experts at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists, in the Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, have unparalleled experience in treating all aspects of foot and ankle care. Our team of doctors: Christopher M. Funk, D.P.M., FACFAS, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, and Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, is dedicated to serving you with state-of-the-art, cutting edge medical technologies including the PinPointe FootLaser, custom-fitted orthotics, and Radial Pulse Therapy (RPT) for chronic foot, heel, or ankle pain. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, please call (520) 575-0800.
