How to Avoid Diabetic Foot Problems This Winter

If you are living with diabetes, keeping up with your exercise routine during the winter months is important to reduce the risk of foot ulcers. Because November is Diabetes Awareness Month, today Dr. Joel Segalman, Dr. Stephen Lazaroff, and Dr. Brittany Ciaramello at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC are sharing their tips to help you avoid diabetes-related foot problems this winter.

During the colder months, diabetics must pay particular attention to their feet to decrease the possibility of diabetic foot ulcers and ensure healthy function. Diabetics should, therefore, put special measures in place – using these simple tips - to protect the health of their feet this winter. 

Protect your feet from the cold and wet elements. Winter conditions can cause moisture to collect in your footwear and become a breeding ground for bacteria. Keep your feet dry with waterproof shoes and boots. The cold can also promote numbness in the feet, so keep your feet toasty warm with the right socks and shoes.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. The dry winter heat, like when your heater is blowing on your feet, make the dryness even worse. Moisturizing your feet each day is the key to keeping them smooth. This also decreases the risk of cracking that can eventually develop into a wound.

Don’t let the cold make you sedentary. It’s very easy to stay indoors when it’s cold outside and abandon your exercise routine. But it’s important to remain active during winter not only to help you fight off seasonal emotional disorder, but also to keep your weight down and your diabetes under control. So rather than staying inside your home all winter, bundle up and get outside! 

Get and keep your blood sugar under control. This is the first step to fight against diabetic peripheral neuropathy and preventing more serious conditions from developing. Complications of this condition can range from painful or numb extremities, to infections, and in serious cases, even amputation. But the good thing about diabetic peripheral neuropathy is that the symptoms can be managed, and staying on top of them can help prevent further nerve damage.

The first step to protecting your diabetic feet this winter season is to visit your podiatrist for a comprehensive checkup. If some time has passed since your last checkup, take the time to schedule an appointment. Contact the offices of Dr. Joel Segalman, Dr. Stephen Lazaroff, and Dr. Brittany Ciaramello at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC today.

We serve both New Haven County and Fairfield County areas. You can schedule an appointment by calling our Waterbury office at (203) 755-0489 or our Newtown location at (203) 270-6724. You can also request an appointment online.