A Diabetic’s Guide to Circulation and Foot Health for PAD Awareness Month
If you are living with diabetes, you know that managing your blood sugar is a top priority. But did you know that one of the most important areas to monitor for complications is also the furthest from your heart? When it comes to detecting problems early, you should be focusing on your feet.
September is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Awareness Month, a perfect time to focus on the critical connection between diabetes, your circulation, and your foot health. And in the following blog, that’s exactly what The Foot Center will do!
The Diabetes & Circulation Connection
Diabetes affects your body in two major ways that create a “perfect storm” for foot complications:
- It Damages Your Nerves (Neuropathy): Over time, high blood sugar can damage the nerves in your feet, leading to a loss of sensation. This means you might not feel a small cut, blister, or sore.
- It Damages Your Arteries (PAD): Diabetes also accelerates the buildup of plaque in your arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis.
- When this happens in the vessels leading to your legs and feet, it’s called Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).
- This narrowing of the arteries reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood that is essential for healing.
When you can’t feel an injury due to neuropathy, and your body can’t heal that injury due to PAD, a minor problem can escalate quickly.
The At-Home Circulation Check: Your Weekly Foot Health Checklist
One of the most powerful things you can do is perform a regular foot inspection. Make this checklist a part of your weekly routine. Sit in a well-lit area and use a mirror if you have trouble seeing the bottoms of your feet.
Look for These Signs:
- Skin Changes: Is the skin on one foot shiny, pale, or bluish?
- Lack of Hair Growth: Have you noticed that the hair on your toes or lower legs has stopped growing?
- Slow-Healing Sores: Do you have a small cut, blister, or ulcer that has been there for more than a week with little to no improvement?
- Nail Changes: Are your toenails getting thick, brittle, or discolored?
Feel for These Signs:
- Temperature Differences: Is one foot consistently colder than the other?
- Numbness or Tingling: Do you have persistent feelings of numbness, tingling, or “pins and needles” in your feet?
Listen to Your Legs:
- Pain with Activity: Do you get painful cramping in your calves, thighs, or hips when you walk or run a certain distance?
- Relief with Rest: Does that cramping pain reliably go away when you stop and rest for a few minutes? This is a classic sign of PAD called claudication.
If you’ve checked any of the boxes on this list, it is a clear signal that you should schedule a professional podiatric evaluation immediately.
Your Podiatrist: A Key Player on Your Diabetes Care Team
Because the first signs of PAD and neuropathy appear in the feet, your podiatrist is often the first line of defense in diagnosing these serious conditions! Get in touch, learn more, and feel better today.
The Foot Center, Inc. provides comprehensive podiatric care for all your foot and ankle needs. Led by Dr. Noel Patel and Dr. William Eng, our team provides personalized treatment plans using the latest techniques and technology. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at one of our five convenient locations: Richmond, Colonial Heights, Henrico-East End, Chester, and Kilmarnock.
