Cracked Heels Sign Of Diabetes

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

Cracked heels sign of diabetes.

If you are diabetic it is important to examine your feet frequently for signs of cracks. This could mean that. For people with diabetes however these common foot problems can lead to infection and serious complications such as amputation. The first sign of cracked heels is having areas of dry thickened skin known as callouses around the rim of your heel.

People with diabetes are even more likely to sustain an infection from cracked heels than non diabetics. You have undiagnosed diabetes or pre diabetes. Athlete s foot is a fungus that causes itching. However research suggests that more than half of these amputations can be prevented through proper foot care.

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. This makes it more difficult for blisters sores. First diabetes can reduce blood flow to your feet depriving your feet of oxygen and nutrients. This lack of effective blood circulation makes it harder for a sore or cut to heal.

The answer is yes. Diabetes is the most common non traumatic cause of leg amputations. High blood sugar and poor circulation resulting from diabetes are. Cracked feet are prone to infection and in those with diabetes the risk of serious infection is even greater.

Each year more than 56 000 people with diabetes have amputations. When diabetes affects the skin it s often a sign that your blood sugar glucose levels are too high. Diabetes also affects the flow of blood throughout your body. If you notice any of the following warning signs on your skin it s time to talk with your doctor.

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.