DIABETES AND YOUR SKIN

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It is especially important if you have Diabetes because it acts as a guard against infection.

The skin on the feet is often hard to take care of. Honestly, how often do we even think about our feet, much less the skin on the bottom of our feet or the skin between our toes? ! But needless to say, the skin is susceptible to both bacterial and fungal infections. If the skin is not properly dried and cleaned between the toes, it can lead to an Athlete’s Foot infection or a fungal infection. This can be very painful, causing cuts between the toes, and extreme itching. If this happens, contact your medical doctor or your Podiatrist immediately.

Corns or Calluses:
These can also lead to an infection in a diabetic if not properly taken care of. Sometimes, under the corn or the callus, there may be an ulcer. The corn or callus arises as a result of pressure on the skin from the bone underneath. Sometimes, the skin breaks down, and cannot handle the pressure of the underlying bone. This creates an ulcer, which is an opening in the skin, and another way for bacteria or fungal organisms to get into your body.

Ulcers:
Most of the time, ulcers will begin as a corn or a callus. If you are diabetic, please be aware of new corns or callus formations on your feet. Many times, as a diabetic, you may not be able to feel increased pressure in an area on your foot, and the callus may go unnoticed for days, weeks, or even months. Food For Thought:When I was working in Florida, I had one diabetic patient who came in complaining that he felt like there was something on his foot and that he had been feeling strange when he walked for the last few weeks. When I examined him I found that he had a callus on the bottom of his foot. When I started to take down the callus to see what was underneath, I found a fishing hook! He was a fisherman, and in Florida with the high temperatures most of the year, he had just walked around barefoot for only 5 minutes. That 5 minutes was enough to get a hook stuck in his foot. Since he was diabetic, he did not feel the hook when it penetrated his skin. He continued to walk on it, and the body created a callus around the hook. Fortunately, we did get the hook out on time, and he did very well.

The take home message is to make sure you check carefully the bottom of your feet daily and between your toes. Especially during the summer months, when you may be at the beach, or at a pool; you will never know what you may be stepping on when you go barefoot.

If you notice anything suspicious on your foot, contact your podiatrist or medical doctor right away. You will be able to prevent something small from getting out of hand.