Cracked Heels Sign Of Diabetes

According to the national institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases niddk high blood glucose levels feed germs causing them to multiply and making infections more difficult to treat.

Cracked heels sign of diabetes. People with diabetes are even more likely to sustain an infection from cracked heels than non diabetics. The first sign of cracked heels is having areas of dry thickened skin known as callouses around the rim of your heel. If you notice any of the following warning signs on your skin it s time to talk with your doctor. This could mean that.

Each year more than 56 000 people with diabetes have amputations. For people with diabetes however these common foot problems can lead to infection and serious complications such as amputation. Cracked feet are prone to infection and in those with diabetes the risk of serious infection is even greater. However research suggests that more than half of these amputations can be prevented through proper foot care.

If your foot sustains an injury and there isn t adequate blood flow to help heal the wound there is a risk of the tissue developing necrosis or dying and eventually becoming gangrene. Athlete s foot is a fungus that causes itching. Diabetes can mean double trouble for your feet. When diabetes affects the skin it s often a sign that your blood sugar glucose levels are too high.

If you are diabetic it is important to examine your feet frequently for signs of cracks. First diabetes can reduce blood flow to your feet depriving your feet of oxygen and nutrients. You have undiagnosed diabetes or pre diabetes. This makes it more difficult for blisters sores.

Diabetes is the most common non traumatic cause of leg amputations. Your treatment for diabetes needs to be adjusted. While dry cracked heels can be a result of a number of factors such as exposure to cold weather dehydration taking too long in a hot bath and or shower and using hard soaps cracked heels could also be one of the first signs of diabetes or a thyroid problem. Diabetes also affects the flow of blood throughout your body.

Could painful dry cracked heels be a sign of a more serious problem than just an unsightly cosmetic issue.