How to deal with corn caps in diabetics? (Query)

Can diabetics use corn caps? Should they change their footwear if suffering from corn and callus? Read to know the answer.

I am a diabetic and suffer from corns and calluses. As I need to take care of my foot, can I use corn caps? I have heard a lot about it. Do I need to change my footwear? What is the best way to deal with corn caps? Please help.

The query is answered by Dr Sanjay Kalra Consultant Endocrinologist, Bharti Hospital, Karnal & Vice President, South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies.

Dr Sanjay Kalra says, Corn are associated with severe pain and hence, most people tend to pop a painkiller. However, always consult your doctor before popping a painkiller to get rid of a severe pain. Though the use of ointments to heal the skin condition is advised in some cases, the use of corn caps is not known to show any significant effect in relieving pain and treating corn and callus. Moreover, diabetics should ensure proper foot care and avoid using corn caps as it might aggravate the condition. Hence, it is wise to avoid the use of corn caps, if possible, for diabetics.'

The right footwear to deal with corn and calluses

Did you know that different shoes have different stress pattern on the feet, like the balls of the feet are more prone to constant stress? Also, there are various pressure points on the soles of the feet, which are distributed all over and hence, constant pressure on any of these points increases your risk of corns and calluses. Also, read about 8-foot care tips diabetics must follow.

• First of all, it is important to wear comfortable footwear because if the footwear is too tight or loose, it can further worsen the condition.
• Also, taking your shoes on and off throughout the day is not a bad idea (if you have the scope to do so) as it will only help you to relieve the sore foot muscles and relax your feet.
• If you are experiencing severe pain due to corn or calluses, consider changing your shoe. But before you invest in new shoes, make sure that you buy shoes in the evening and not in the morning. Here s why.
• Ensure that you wear a new set of shoes at least for a few hours every day to get used to it. And change it every few hours before you wear it for hours at a stretch. Never wear a new shoe for long as it might increase your risk of corn and calluses.
• If you can t change the shoes, try offloading as it not only helps in relieving the pain and discomfort but also aids in healing the condition. Also, read about 8 diseases you could get by wearing the wrong kind of shoes.

Offloading the best way to get rid of corn and callus

Rather than opting for corn caps or any other treatment option, your doctor might recommend a simple yet effective option to treat corn and callus. Known as offloading, this technique can heal corn and calluses in six weeks, says Dr Sanjay Kalra.

Offloading means not applying pressure on the part of the foot that has corn or callus. For example, if you have corn on the ball of the big toe, walking or even applying slight pressure on the corn might lead to severe pain and delay its healing. In such cases, putting a half-inch thick piece of leather below the shoe on all parts except the area of big toe might help. By doing so, there will be little space between the shoe and the big toe, thereby relieving pressure or offloading it. Hence, all the pressure is on the foot sole, and the toe is in the air, such that the toe is touching the shoe and not the ground. However, the only problem, in such a case is that the person might appear to be limping because of the off balance created due to the leather sole. You may also like to read about top 5 home remedies to treat corns.

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