Are you diabetic? If so, taking care of your feet is important. Dr. Adam Teichman is owner and founder of East Penn Foot & Ankle Associates in Allentown, Easton, and Reading, Pennsylvania. A podiatric physician and surgeon, he specializes in the treatment of all aspects of foot and ankle disorders. Here he discusses preventative steps diabetics can take to prevent serious foot problems.
Diabetes can be extremely dangerous to your feet. Even a small cut can lead to serious consequences when you are diabetic. In particular, diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet and can also reduce the blood flow in your feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection.
Because of these problems, you might not know an injury or an infection in your foot. For example, you could develop a blister or sore that can go unnoticed, which can lead to an infection that might lead to an amputation of a toe, a foot or a leg.
People with diabetes are prone to many foot problems because of the complications. So when you have diabetes, you need to be aware of how foot problems can arise, including disturbances in the skin, nails, nerves, bones, muscles and blood vessels. As mentioned, these seemingly small foot problems can turn into serious complications if left unattended with a person who has diabetes.
You must play a vital role in reducing complications associated with diabetes by taking some important steps. Follow the proactive measures discussed below and have follow-ups with the East Penn Foot and Ankle Associates regularly.
They are as follows:
- Get periodic foot exams. We offer routine foot exams to help prevent foot complications associated with diabetes.
- Inspect your feet daily.
- Moisturize your feet but not between your toes as it can mask infection there, and also cause fungal infection.
- Never trim corns or callouses.
- Wear clean, dry socks daily.
- Wear socks to bed if you have cold feet.
- Never use a heating pad or hot water bottle on your feet.
- Shake out your shoes and inspect the inside of shoes before wearing them.
- Never walk barefoot.
- Control your diabetes.
- Do not smoke.
Our major goal at East Penn Foot and Ankle Associates is to prevent amputation. Many new surgical techniques are available to save feet and legs including joint reconstruction and wound healing technology.
Getting regular checkups and seeking immediate help when you notice something can keep small problems from worsening. I work with my staff and other healthcare providers to prevent and treat the complications associated with diabetes.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
