4 Winter Foot Worries If You Have Diabetes
If you have diabetes, caring for your feet is always important. In the winter, that means taking some extra steps. Here are four areas worth your attention.
Why You Should Pay Extra Attention to Your Feet if You’re Pregnant
When you first learned you were pregnant, you probably gave a lot of thought to the ways your body would change over the coming months. Since pregnancy transforms everything from your skin to your hormone levels, you most likely braced yourself.
Even so, there’s one important area that’s easy to overlook: your feet. They’re going to be working harder as your stomach grows, and it’s important to keep an eye on them throughout your pregnancy. Fortunately, Christopher Vittori, DPM, and Ameet Thakrar, DPM, offer dedicated pregnancy foot care at our Vittori Foot & Ankle Specialist offices in Homer Glen and New Lenox, Illinois.
We can work alongside you in this important season of your life. And to help you understand what kind of changes to expect through your pregnancy, we also built this guide.
How pregnancy affects your feet
Carrying a baby makes you heavier, and that puts added stress on your feet. Your changing hormone levels compound the problem, causing everything from foot swelling to increased susceptibility to foot injuries. Plus, as your stomach gets bigger, reaching your feet gets harder.
Ultimately, you might deal with foot pain from the added weight, as well as pinching in your shoes. You shouldn’t push through foot discomfort during your pregnancy, though. Dr. Thakrar and Dr. Vittori can help you make modifications — like specialized orthotics and different shoes — to keep your feet comfortable.
We can also recommend at-home care, including simple things like elevating your feet when you’re resting, to minimize issues. We know that you have a full plate preparing to bring your baby into the world, and we believe your feet shouldn’t hold you back.
Additionally, should any podiatric problems crop up, we’re here to treat them as quickly and effectively as possible.
Podiatric problems that can come with pregnancy
Almost all pregnant women deal with some level of foot discomfort and changes. But those things can develop into diagnosable podiatric conditions, especially when left unchecked.
Some of the common foot problems to watch for while you’re pregnant include:
Swelling
Also called edema, foot swelling becomes increasingly common the further you get into your pregnancy.
Flat feet
To prepare your body for birth, your system creates more of a hormone called relaxin. This can lengthen the ligaments in your feet, contributing to flat feet.
Plantar fasciitis
The added weight of your baby can put strain on the tendons of your feet, causing sharp pain in your heel or the middle of your sole.
Skin and toenail problems
As your body changes throughout your pregnancy, you become more susceptible to issues from cracking skin in your heels to ingrown toenails.
Fortunately, if you face any of these problems during pregnancy, our team is here to help you find relief. For specialized pregnancy foot care, call Vittori Foot & Ankle Specialist or schedule an appointment online today.
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