Corns and calluses are a consequence of force and friction. When you walk on certain pressure points, your skin hardens as a result. The hardened, dead skin that makes up corns and calluses is your body’s response to repeated injury.
Corns are round and smaller than calluses, and they’re often surrounded by swollen skin. Calluses vary in shape.
In people who don’t have diabetes, corns and calluses are rarely a problem, but in those living with diabetes, they raise the risk for ulcers and infections. Reduced blood flow to the feet makes it more likely to develop ulcers and infections that don’t heal properly.
Dr. Kenneth Meisler understands that one of the biggest challenges with diabetes is protecting the feet from damage. Below, we asked him to explain what diabetic foot care is and how people living with diabetes can prevent foot complications.
Keep your feet dry
Wearing organic cotton socks and breathable shoes that don’t make you sweat too much is key to preventing foot complications.
Bacteria thrive in humid and warm environments, so if you want to reduce your chances for infections with corns and calluses, your best bet is to keep your feet dry.
Check your feet for changes on a daily basis
Ulcers can develop as a consequence of corns and calluses. Unfortunately, due to poor blood flow, you may lose feeling in your feet, a condition known as neuropathy.
This means you may develop ulcers, cuts, and infections without feeling any pain or discomfort, so you need to check the health of your feet on a daily basis.
Quit smoking cigarettes
Smoking cigarettes narrows blood vessels and reduces blood flow to extremities, much like suffering from elevated blood sugar levels does. As a result, smoking when you have diabetes can slow down wound healing in your feet even more.
Go for regular check-ups
Left untreated, corns and calluses can ulcerate. Since people with diabetes have impaired healing, the damaged area may not heal properly, causing the tissue on the affected foot to die off.
Are you developing corns and calluses on a regular basis? Dr. Meisler can remove them in a safe manner while examining your feet, and he can determine why you continue to struggle with foot issues. It could be your shoes or uncontrolled blood sugar levels causing your feet to be more sensitive.
If you’re a diabetic, contact us to schedule an appointment and get personalized advice on preventing and treating your corns and calluses.