What to Do If You Have Corns and Calluses with Diabetes

Corns and calluses are common conditions that affect your feet. While they can be an annoyance, many people try to ignore them or treat them at home. But if you’re living with diabetes, you’ll need to be more careful with how you manage this condition. 

Southwest Foot & Ankle in Scottsdale, Arizona, offers all kinds of treatments for foot pain and discomfort. And especially if you have or are vulnerable to diabetic neuropathy, it’s important to get professional treatment for inconveniences like corns and calluses. 

Petrina C. Lewis, DPM, FACFAS, and Mark T. Lewis, DPM, FACFAS, are here to make sure your feet stay happy, healthy, and well so you can too! 

Corns vs. calluses: What’s the difference? 

Corns and calluses are often lumped together as a common problem, but they’re a bit different. Calluses usually form on the areas of your feet that bear the most pressure like the bottoms of your soles or underneath your toes. They don’t hurt for the most part, but they may become harder than the other parts of your skin. 

Corns, on the other hand, can form pretty much anywhere on your feet, and when you press on them, they will hurt. There is usually a harder part in the center surrounded by inflamed skin. 

There are all kinds of over-the-counter treatments for both of these issues, and for some people, these treatments can be helpful. But if you have diabetes, you’ll want to avoid these options entirely. 

Why over-the-counter treatment isn’t safe if you have diabetes

People with diabetes need to watch out for their feet more than most. This is because the condition can cause something called diabetic neuropathy where you lose sensations in certain parts of your body, particularly your feet. Injuries to your feet, therefore, can be harder to notice and can worsen without you even knowing, leading to serious problems down the road. 

Over-the-counter treatments for corns and calluses aren’t the best choice because they don't offer the safe, considered care your feet require if you have diabetes. They can also cause injury. For example, some corn and callus medications can burn the skin on your foot. Some people don’t experience problems from this, but you might. 

Another type of over-the-counter treatment for calluses and corns is pumice stones or handheld files. These are dangerous because they may break your skin and create wounds and/or become dirty and allow for infection to take hold. 

The best way to treat corns and calluses when you have diabetes 

The best way to treat these conditions when you have diabetes — and especially if you know you have diabetic neuropathy — is to visit your provider. They will be able to tell you the best and safest way to manage the problem, and they will probably treat you in the office with sterilized equipment, ensuring the safety of your feet. 

In some cases, your provider may suggest you do certain things at home to avoid problems with corns and calluses in the future, such as 

• Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes that don’t rub against your feet and aren’t too tight
• Trim your toenails properly
• Keep your feet clean and dry and avoid soaking them for long periods
• Wear custom orthotics that keep you from putting too much pressure on certain parts of your feet

Finally, it’s important to always check your feet for any signs of distress. With diabetes, a little callus or corn might become a big problem later if you ignore it or try to treat it without the proper tools. 

We can help treat your corns and calluses 

Our office offers a number of foot treatments, including sterile care for corns and calluses to ensure patients with diabetes don’t experience any serious or dangerous side effects. 

Make an appointment at Southwest Foot & Ankle today. Call our office at 480-900-7399 or schedule a visit online. We’re here to help.