Diabetes And Athlete's Foot: How Podiatrists Can Help
If you live with diabetes, you probably already know how important it is to take care of your feet. The effects of diabetes make both type I and type II diabetics more vulnerable to foot injuries and infections.
Diabetic people can be particularly vulnerable to the fungal infection known as athlete's foot. This common condition can lead to serious complications if it goes untreated. If you are diabetic and think you may have athlete's foot, you should visit a podiatrist or foot and ankle doctor as soon as possible for professional, effective treatment.
Why Are Diabetics More Vulnerable To Athlete's Foot?
Athlete's foot is a condition caused by several types of skin fungus, which grow on patches of skin that frequently become very sweaty. It is especially likely to occur if these patches of skin aren't exposed to much oxygen.
For these reasons, athlete's foot most commonly occurs on the skin between your toes, but it can also grow on other parts of your feet. It can also be spread to other parts of your body by your hands. Skin affected by athlete's foot becomes flaky, pale, and cracked.
The fungi that cause athlete's foot feed on the moisture and chemicals contained within human sweat. If you have diabetes, your sweat may contain higher concentrations of sugar, especially if your blood sugar levels are too high. This sugary sweat supercharges the growth rate of athlete's foot fungus, so diabetic people frequently suffer from more serious infections than non-diabetics.
Over time, the fungal growth damages the skin and can cause skin peeling and open sores. Athlete's foot is also notoriously itchy, and scratching at the damaged skin can cause serious damage.
Diabetic people need to be particularly wary of this kind of damage. Diabetes affects the nerves and blood vessels in your feet, causing damaged skin to heal more slowly. Diabetics are also more likely to develop infections through open wounds on their feet, which can have serious, and sometimes life-threatening complications.
How Can Your Podiatrist Help?
If you are diabetic and think you are suffering from athlete's foot, visiting a podiatrist sooner rather than later is the best way to cure the athlete's foot and minimize the risk of complications. Your podiatrist will first use tests and screening equipment to diagnose your athlete's foot and rule out other types of fungal or bacterial infection.
To treat the athlete's foot, your podiatrist can prescribe powerful anti-fungal creams, ointments, and powders, to be applied directly to the affected skin. In most cases, these topical treatments will clear up your athlete's foot in a few weeks.
If your athlete's foot is more stubborn, or your skin is too badly damaged to safely use topical treatments, your podiatrist can also prescribe oral anti-fungal medications. You may also be given oral antibiotics to treat or prevent bacterial infections.
Unlike regular doctors, podiatrists can also provide you with aids that will help to prevent athlete's foot from returning. They can provide you with specialized footwear featuring wide toe boxes, and socks made from breathable materials, which will help prevent sweat from accumulating on your feet.
Contact a local podiatrist to learn more.
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