Why Diabetic Foot Care Matters: Essential Tips for November’s Diabetes Awareness Month

November 1 2025

November marks Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to highlight one of the most overlooked complications of diabetes: foot health. While most people associate diabetes with blood sugar control, the condition can quietly affect the feet in ways that are both serious and preventable. At Family Foot & Leg Center (FFLC), diabetic foot care is one of our most important specialties — because protecting your feet means protecting your mobility, independence, and long-term health.

How Diabetes Affects Your Feet

Diabetes can compromise the feet in two major ways:

1. Nerve Damage (Peripheral Neuropathy)

High blood sugar levels can damage the nerves that allow you to feel pain, heat, and pressure.
This means:

A blister may go unnoticed.
A cut may not hurt.
A sore might worsen without you realizing it.

Without sensation, even a small injury can snowball into infection or ulceration.

2. Poor Circulation

Diabetes can narrow or harden the arteries, reducing blood flow to the legs and feet.
Poor circulation means:

Slower healing
Increased risk of infection
Higher risk of tissue damage

Combined, neuropathy + poor circulation create the perfect environment for non-healing wounds, which may lead to serious complications.

Common Diabetic Foot Problems

Patients with diabetes are more vulnerable to:

Foot ulcers
Fungal infections
Dry, cracked skin
Calluses and corns
Charcot foot (a serious bone and joint condition)
Infections that may require surgical treatment

At FFLC, we specialize in early detection and advanced treatment — including wound care, limb salvage, and diabetic neuropathy treatment.

Daily Foot Care Tips for People With Diabetes

Keeping your feet healthy starts at home. Here’s what our podiatrists recommend:

Check your feet every day for cuts, redness, blisters, swelling, or nail changes.
Wash and moisturize your feet daily, but avoid applying lotion between the toes.
Never walk barefoot, even indoors.
Choose supportive, protective footwear that fits well and reduces pressure points.
Trim nails carefully, or let a podiatrist do it if vision or mobility is limited.
Visit a podiatrist regularly, even if you don’t feel pain.

Small habits can make the difference between a minor issue and a medical emergency.

When to See a Podiatrist Immediately

Call a foot and leg specialist right away if you notice:

An open sore or wound
Redness or warmth
Increased swelling
A blister or callus that looks deep
A change in foot shape
A cut that isn’t healing

Early treatment prevents infection, reduces complications, and protects long-term mobility.

How Family Foot & Leg Center Supports Diabetic Patients

FFLC provides comprehensive diabetic foot and leg care throughout Southwest Florida, including:

Advanced wound care
Diabetic shoe fittings
Vascular assessment
Nerve testing
Limb preservation programs
Customized treatment plans

Our mission is simple: to keep you walking strong, every step of the way.

Your Steps Matter — Especially During Diabetes Awareness Month

Your feet carry you through life, and they deserve attention — especially if you’re living with diabetes. This month, take the time to schedule a foot exam, review your daily care habits, and make foot health a priority.

Family Foot & Leg Center

📍 Multiple Locations Across Southwest Florida
📞 239-430-3668
🌐 www.NaplesPodiatrist.com

Serving Southwest Florida Since 2005, Family Foot & Leg Center has multiple convenient locations throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties. Offering pediatric to geriatric family care: Ingrown Toenails, Heel Pain, Bunions, Foot / Ankle Arthritis Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Foot / Ankle Surgery, Custom Orthotics, and Diabetic Wound Care. In office X-rays, ultrasounds, and minor surgical suite exam rooms. Practice powered by EMR and advanced technologies.

Home of the Lam Minimally Invasive No-Scar Bunion Surgery! Come Discover Why Patients Love Our 5-Star Foot & Ankle Care!

For advanced wound management and diabetic wound healing resources, visit:
WoundHealingExperts.com

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