According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.6 million people in the United States were diagnosed with diabetes. By 2015, that number had increased to 23.4 million, and has continued to rise. Now, 37.3 million people in the United States, roughly 10%, have diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition, and when you have it, your body doesn’t produce enough of, or doesn’t properly use, the hormone insulin, which is crucial for converting food to energy. The sugar that should be turned into energy instead stays in your blood, which can cause a host of problems.
One of those problems is poor circulation and damage to your blood vessels. Your feet are the part of your body farthest from your heart, and when you have poor circulation, it may be difficult for even minor injuries to heal. Nerve damage is another common problem that results from high blood sugar. If the nerves in your feet are damaged, they may become numb — which means you may not notice a minor injury.
Toenails grow, so you’re going to need to trim them. When you have diabetes, it’s especially important to trim them carefully and correctly.
The first step is to wash and dry your feet. Make sure you get the spaces between your toes thoroughly dry. You need a pair of sharp clippers or nail scissors for the job. Cut straight across, being careful to not round the corners of your nails. Cut them short enough to avoid snagging on things like your blankets at night or your socks, but not so short you run the risk of getting an ingrown toenail.
Use a file to smooth the edges. File in one direction and only use a file when your nails are completely dry.
Complications Associated with Toenails
It may seem outlandish to think that a jagged toenail could pose a risk to your overall health, but if you have diabetes, it certainly can. Toenails that are too long or sharp can scratch or cut you, and if you have nerve damage, you may not know it’s happened.
If your toenails are too short, you run a much greater risk of developing an ingrown toenail. The sharp edge of your toenail grows into the soft skin that surrounds your nail. This situation can be painful, and become infected. Poor circulation makes it much harder for your body to resolve and heal from an ingrown toenail.
For some people, trimming their own toenails is a problem. You may not be able to reach your toes easily, or you may simply be worried you won’t do it correctly. This is where we come into play!
Contact us or book an appointment with UpKept today! I would love to assist you!
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