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Foot Notes
Diabetics And Their Feet
July 24, 2007 - Morning Call Article
People with diabetes are prone to foot problems due to nerve damage, which lessens the ability to feel pain and discomfort. A small problem may lead to injury and infection, and common foot problems pose a higher risk, including in-grown toe nails, fungal toenails, athletes foot, corns, calluses and structural weakness.
Diabetes may also cause poor blood circulation and inadequate blood supply to the feet. Called peripheral vascular disease, this makes it hard for even a tiny cut to heal. Warning signs include: pain that interrupts sleep or rest that is alleviated by hanging the foot over the bed or walking; cramping in the calf or leg when walking; painful open sores; skin color changes; cold feet, or changes in nail texture.
Preventive foot care is especially important: Avoid injury to the foot, wear properly fitting shoes, inspect feet daily, wash feet gently in lukewarm, not hot, water, moisturize feet, but not between the toes, never trim corns or calluses, never perform bathroom surgery, wear clean, dry socks daily, never use a heating pad or hot water bottle, shake out shoes and inspect the inside before wearing, keep feet warm and dry, never walk barefoot, don't smoke, and have periodic foot exams by a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon.
Adam J. Teichman, DPM, A.A.C.F.A.S., is a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon with a practice in Allentown.
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