Get Relief from Diabetes Cracked Heels

Having diabetes can lead to several health issues, among them cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetic retinopathy, which is an eye condition that can lead to blindness. Foot complications also are very common. They affect more than more than 20 percent of patients treated with diabetes and the American Diabetes Association reports that similarly 20 percent of patients with diabetes are hospitalized because of foot problems. [1]  

Cracked heels, also known as heel fissures, are a common foot problem. They occur when hard dry skin forms over the heels.  The condition is not unique to those with diabetes, however, because diabetes can result in skin changes, it can lead to cracked heels.  Most of the time the complications of heel fissures are superficial, but deeper cracks can become more serious leading to slow-healing wounds, pain, and risk of infection.

What causes dry cracked heels

Most of the time, cracked heels result from dry skin, which is caused by:

Age: Your skin changes when you age. Contributing factors are sun damage, a decrease in oil production, and a reduction in the thickness of your skin.

Trauma: Friction from your skin rubbing against your shoes as well as environmental conditions – you live in a dry climate, for example – can cause the skin on your feet to dry out.

Lack of care: Your feet need moisturizing like the rest of your body, but the heels are an area where many overlook.

Relationship between dry cracked heels and diabetes

Someone with diabetes is more likely to develop dry and cracked heals for the following reasons. High levels of glucose damage nerves, leading to peripheral neuropathy. Nerve damage to the feet can affect sweat glands in that area, which impacts the body’s ability to retain its natural oils and moisture in the feet. The result is the formation of hard, thickened skin around the heels, which can develop into dry and cracked skin.

Another problem stemming from high blood sugar is poor circulation. Healthy blood flow is necessary to carry nutrients and immune cells to help heal a wound and prevent infection. Poor circulation from diabetes causes blood to flow slowly, making it difficult for your body to heal a wound or fight infection.

How to treat diabetic cracked heels

If you see signs of diabetes cracked heels and the condition is not severe – that is, you are not experiencing discomfort - there are home remedy options you can try:

Take shorter baths and showers: Shorten your time for bathing or showering to prevent drying out skin, which could worsen already cracked heels. Make sure to dry the skin gently with a towel after bathing.

Use a gentle cleanser: Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser so that it will not deplete your skin of its natural oils.

Rub heels with pumice stone: Rubbing your cracked heels with a pumice stone can help remove some of the thick, dead skin. [2]

Moisturize after bathing: It is best to moisturize your heels right after bathing since damp skin can lock in moisture. Consider moisturizers like EASE-Z Diabetics’ Dry Skin Therapy Foot Cream. It is an over-the-counter product that uniquely features active Zinc Acetate to relieve and protect dry, cracked skin associated with diabetes. The product covers feet with a thick protective layer that penetrates to provide real, long lasting relief. 

Protect heels: If you have signs of diabetic cracked heels, wearing a liquid bandage during the day can create a protective barrier over the heel. Liquid bandages can reduce pain, speed up healing, and prevent pathogens from entering the skin.[3]

Wear well-fitting shoes: Wear comfortable shoes that fit well to provide suitable support and reduce pressure on heels. Avoid walking barefoot and wearing open-heeled shoes, such as flip flops. Also avoid shoes that are too tight or too loose because they can put extra pressure on feet and worsen dry skin.

Apply petroleum jelly: Before bed, apply a layer of petroleum jelly and wear socks to help retain moisture.

Avoid getting cracked heels

Taking the steps above also can help you prevent getting dry cracked heels. Other diabetic foot care guidelines, in addition to monitoring blood glucose levels, include:

Check your feet daily: Check daily for any cuts, discoloration, sores or other changes to your feet.

Cut your toenails straight across: Gently smooth any sharp edges with a nail file. Curved nails could become ingrown. Have your podiatrist trim your toenails if you cannot see or reach your feet.

Do not remove corn or calluses yourself: Do not use over-the-counter products to remove them since they could burn your skin. Gently use a pumice stone to remove corns and calluses after shower or bath when you skin is soft.

Keep the blood flowing: Do the right exercises that will not increase the risk of injury. Feet friendly exercises include walking, swimming and even bike riding. Also, put your feet up when you are sitting, and wiggle your toes for a few minutes several times throughout the day

Use a humidifier: The use of humidifier during winter can add moisture back into the air.

Pay careful attention to your feet. While cracked heels can become a problem for anyone, they are especially concerning if you have diabetes. If you see signs of diabetes cracked heels, you can try some of the suggested home remedies. However, if you experience pain or there is infection, contact your medical team as soon as possible.