After my wedding this past weekend, my mother, who has Diabetes, came to me very concerned about a blister on her foot. The blisters were from the shoes she wore to the wedding and she said she didn’t even feel them coming. She did not feel the blisters because she has a condition known as Diabetic neuropathy.
Diabetic neuropathy can be very dangerous. When patients with Diabetes have uncontrolled blood sugar, it can cause damage to their nerves. They may feel nerve pains such as tingling, numbness, and burning. When patients with Diabetes have numbness in their feet, it puts them at risk for stepping on something and not feeling it or developing wounds without realizing it.
Blisters and Calluses can be dangerous…
Unfortunately, my mother does not live nearby to me. After seeing some pictures, I told her it is very important for her to follow-up with her podiatrist. When Diabetic patients have blisters, the blisters should first be drained with sterile instruments and by a professional. Dead skin surrounding the area is then removed and the blister is treated as a wound. If you leave the dead skin from the blister, it allows an area for bacteria to get trapped under which can cause an infection. A similar issue can start with what looks like a harmless callus. Many patients with Diabetes will get a callus, or build-up of hard, dead skin from pressure points on their feet. Calluses form from a constant pressure or micro-trauma to the area. Once the hard skin is removed, it is possible there will be a wound beneath it. These wounds must also be followed closely to make sure an infection does not form. These wounds are treated with offloading the pressure from the are and different creams or ointments. Sometimes, skin grafts and alternative treatments can also be used.
If you are concerned about a Diabetic wound on your foot, call Hollowbrook Foot Specialists today at (845) 298-9074. We are serving the Hudson Valley from Wappingers Falls.
