Your feet are crucial to walking, running, and doing activities throughout the day, which puts them at risk for injuries and conditions like corns and calluses. For many people, these are a simple inconvenience, but not those living with diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition that affects how your body makes insulin or uses it to keep blood sugar levels regular. Over time, high blood sugar contributes to nerve damage and circulatory problems in the legs and feet, making it hard to tell if there's an issue like a corn or callus.
Foot issues are more severe for people with diabetes because they don't heal as well and lead to infections and ulcers that can be severe. At Beltsville Foot and Ankle Center, Dr. David Deiboldt provides diabetic foot care and other treatments for corns and calluses.
Dr. Deiboldt is an experienced podiatrist who offers tips and tricks for keeping your feet healthy while living with diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic medical problem that affects how your body uses insulin. Your body either doesn't produce enough insulin or can't use the insulin you make to control the sugar in your blood.
Glucose is an important energy source that the body utilizes for fuel, but it poses a health risk when it gets too high or too low. High blood sugar levels damage the nerves and vessels over a long period, especially in the feet.
Diabetic neuropathy is common among people with diabetes. It happens when the nerves that run in the legs and feet are damaged. The condition makes it difficult to feel when there's a cut or injury to the feet, causing sores and ulcers to form.
Diabetes also impairs circulation, which makes it difficult for wounds on the feet and legs to heal without the proper nutrients. Between circulatory issues and nerve damage, people with diabetes need to pay special attention to their feet.
Corns are thickened skin that appears on the tops or sides of the toes. They form because of repeated areas of friction that cause the skin to thicken. They're typically round.
Different types of corns, including seed, soft, and hard, can be found anywhere on the toes and sometimes on the bottom of the feet. Corns may also be painful if they rub on your shoes.
Calluses form from the same tissues as corns but are often bigger and appear on the bottom of the feet. They're thick areas of skin that become hard.
Calluses are typically present on the bottom of the feet, around the heels, balls of the feet, and on the big toes. Friction causes calluses to form, and they can be painful.
To most people, corns and calluses are simply a nuisance that sometimes causes discomfort when their shoes rub – but for people living with diabetes, they're much more of a threat.
Corns and calluses form more quickly in people with diabetes because of the excess pressure on the feet and the lack of circulation. Nerve damage makes it difficult to know if you have a corn or callus unless you check your feet daily.
Corns and calluses among diabetic patients can cause ulcers. Untreated corns and calluses break down and turn into diabetic foot ulcers, which don't heal well and can lead to infection.
The proper shoes can help take the load off your feet, decreasing corns and calluses' formation. If you already have corns and calluses, it's essential to let Dr. Deiboldt trim them down in the office to prevent infection or other complications from trying to treat them alone.
Living with diabetes means you need to take extra care with your feet. Dr. Deiboldt offers the following tips to keep callus and corn formation from happening:
If you have calluses or corns, never try to treat them at home. Call Beltsville Foot and Ankle Care today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Deiboldt or request one on our website.
