Why Foot Care Is So Important for Diabetics

Diabetic foot care directly affects how well you can manage your diabetes and prevents complications that can spread throughout your body.

At Cascade Foot & Ankle Center in Provo and Nephi, Utah, board-certified podiatric surgeon and wound care specialist Jared Clegg, DPM, FACFAS, and our team help patients with diabetes understand how foot care connects to their overall health.

Foot problems make diabetes harder to control

When foot infections develop, they create stress on your body, which in turn raises blood sugar levels. This stress response can last for weeks or months while the infection heals, making glucose control more difficult even when you take your medications as prescribed.

Foot pain changes how much you move and exercise. Walking becomes uncomfortable, so physical activity decreases. Since exercise helps control blood sugar, reduced physical activity often means higher glucose levels and may require adjustments to medication and other aspects of your management plan.

Your feet show diabetes progression early

Diabetic neuropathy typically affects the feet and toes first. When you start losing feeling in your feet, it often means your blood sugar has been too high for too long. This often happens before diabetes damages other organs.

Watch for these early warning signs:

Altered sensation that may include tingling or burning sensations that start in your toes
Numbness that makes it hard to feel cuts or temperature changes
Sharp, shooting pains that worsen at night
Muscle weakness that affects your balance

Regular foot exams can catch neuropathy early. This gives you and your healthcare team time to adjust your diabetes management before complications spread to other parts of your body.

Minor cuts can spiral into major complications

A minor cut that heals in days for someone without diabetes can become a months-long medical situation. Prolonged healing can create ongoing stress and inflammation that affects the entire body.

Chronic wounds increase your metabolic demands. Your body requires additional energy and nutrients to combat infections and repair tissue. This increased demand can affect blood sugar stability and may require adjustments to your diabetes medications or diet.

The treatment itself adds another layer of complexity. Antibiotics used to treat diabetic foot infections can impact blood sugar control. Some antibiotics interact with diabetes medications, while others cause digestive upset that affects how your body absorbs nutrients and manages blood sugar levels.

Prevention costs much less than treatment

A routine foot exam and proper nail trimming cost far less than treating an infected ingrown toenail that requires surgery. Hospital stays for diabetic foot complications last longer than typical admissions because healing takes time. These extended stays create substantial medical bills and lost income.

Home health care for wound management, special shoes, and mobility aids add up quickly when foot problems develop. Most of these expenses can be avoided with consistent preventive care.

Daily foot checks take two minutes

Inspect your feet every day for cuts, color changes, swelling, or temperature differences. Look for:

Red streaks extending from any wounds
Warm spots that feel different from the rest of your foot
Calluses or corns that seem to be growing
Skin that looks darker than usual
Any drainage or unusual odors

Use a mirror to check the bottoms of your feet or ask a family member to help. This simple habit can prevent weeks of wound care appointments.

Trim your nails straight across and file any sharp edges to prevent ingrown toenails, which can become infected. If you have vision problems or difficulty reaching your feet, schedule regular appointments with a podiatrist for safe nail care.

Book diabetic foot care in Provo or Nephi, Utah

Protecting your feet is essential for maintaining your overall health if you have diabetes. Regular foot care helps prevent complications that can interfere with diabetes management and maintain your mobility and independence.

Call Cascade Foot & Ankle Center or schedule an appointment online to establish a diabetic foot care routine that supports your health goals.