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Diabetic Foot Care
Remember - You play a vital role in reducing complications associated with diabetes
Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet - even a small cut could have serious consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet. Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection. Because of these problems, you might not notice a pebble in your shoe - so you could develop a blister, then a sore, then a stubborn infection that might cause amputation of your foot or leg.
- Get periodic foot exams - East Penn Foot and Ankle surgeons offer routine foot exams to help prevent the foot complications associated with diabetes
- Inspect your feet daily
- Was your feet in lukewarm - NO HOT WATER!
- Be gentle when bathing your feet
- Moisturize your feet, but not between your toes
DON'T moisturize between the toes—this could encourage a fungal infection.
- Cut nails carefully and straight across
- Never trim corns or calluses
No "bathroom surgery", let your doctor do the job
- Wear clean, dry socks daily
- Avoid the wrong type of socks
- Wear socks to bed
NEVER use a heating pad or hot water bottle
- Shake out your shoes and inspect the inside before wearing
- Keep your feet warm and dry
- Never walk barefoot
- Take care of your diabetes
- Don't smoke
People with diabetes are prone to many foot problems, often because of two complications of diabetes: nerve damage (neuropathy) and poor blood circulation. Neuropathy causes loss of feeling in your feet, taking away your ability to feel pain and discomfort, so you may not detect an injury or irritation. Poor circulation in your feet reduces your ability to heal, making it hard for even a tiny cut to resist infection.
When you have diabetes, you need to be aware of how foot problems can arise from disturbances in the skin, nails, nerves, bones, muscles, and blood vessels. Furthermore, in diabetes, small foot problems can turn into serious complications. You can do much to prevent amputation by taking two important steps: Follow the proactive measures discussed below—and follow up with East Penn Foot and Ankle Associates regularly.
What East Penn Foot & Ankle Surgeon Can Do For You
Our major goal is to prevent amputation. There are many new surgical techniques available to save feet and legs, including joint reconstruction and wound healing technologies. Getting regular foot checkups and seeking immediate help when you notice something can keep small problems from worsening. Your foot and ankle surgeon works together with other health care providers to prevent and treat complications from diabetes.
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