This article is part of the Complete Guide to Wound Care.

People with diabetes have to take special care of their feet. Infection and gangrene are the most common foot problems associated with patients suffering from diabetes.

It might be cold and snowy, but that doesn't mean you have to hang up your running shoes. With a little bit of preparation, you can be winter running ready.

It can be different from patient to patient, but plantar fasciitis tends to start with a noticeable irritation in your heel. This irritation becomes pain that hurts when you stand or walk. 

If you've experienced plantar fasciitis, you know how incapacitating it can be. Every morning or anytime that you get up after resting, pain shoots through your heel and arch. The stiffness and pain may lessen after a few steps, but your foot will typically hurt more (and its tenderness will increase) as the day goes on. 

Risk Factors 

Plantar fasciitis is an injury often related to running, but it isn't limited to runners. It can be caused by many things. The more risk factors you match up with the greater the chance of your foot pain being plantar fasciitis: 

Charcot foot, pronounced "shar-kō," is a condition where your foot becomes red, then swells, and turns painful. It is not exclusive to diabetic patients, but its effects can be worse if you have metabolic disease. That's why when you have common diabetic symptoms such as loss of sensation and numbness, it's crucial to check your feet daily to lower the risk of complications, such as Charcot foot.

Until recently, ankle replacements were not that common. However, active people want to stay active, and with advancements in technology, total ankle replacement, also called total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), has become more common. 

What causes ankle pain? 

The first question patients tend to ask is why they have pain. There could be many reasons. You feel pain when there is friction between your ankle bones when  moving. If you have arthritis, it can rob your body of cartilage that helps make movement smooth and pain-free. Though injury, infection, an active lifestyle, or the wear and tear of a life well-lived, your body's cartilage grows thinner and provides less protection.