Fight Back Against Diabetes
At NY Foot Health, we are very concerned about the negative impact diabetes can have on our patients. November is American Diabetes Month and a good time to arm yourself to fight this disease and its dangerous complications.
Podiatric Care Reduces Amputation Risk
Diabetes can cause harm to numerous parts of your body, but one of the greatest fears patients have is lower limb amputation--and with good reason. It’s estimated that over 65,000 lower limb amputations happen annually as a result of diabetic complications. After having an amputation, the chances of having a second one within three to five years can be as high as 50%. Fortunately, however, including a podiatrist on your diabetes care team can cut the risk of amputation by as much as 85%. If you have diabetes, regular podiatric checkups must be part of your care plan. If you don’t have a podiatrist currently, you can find one using an online directory.
Other Tools You Can Use
Amputation risk is so high for diabetic patients because neuropathy—nerve damage that impedes your ability to perceive pain and other sensations in your feet—is often associated with the disease. Even with neuropathy, however, there are ways you can outsmart diabetes. Here are some suggestions:
Don’t walk barefoot. Even when you’re at home, keeping your feet covered will drastically reduce the chances of getting a cut or wound on your foot. It will also prevent the majority of fungal foot infections transmitted by direct contact.
Commit to daily foot inspections. Even if you don’t feel like something’s wrong, your feet will manifest signs of a developing problem. Report any bruising, rashes, sores, swelling, blisters, and changes to toenails or skin discoloration to the podiatrist promptly.
Choose footwear carefully. Make sure your shoes fit properly. Get measured when buying new shoes and pick styles made of soft materials and have plenty of room in the toe box. Avoid socks with seams and tight elastic bands.
Don’t perform bathroom surgeries. It means leaving the removal of warts, calluses, and corns to the podiatrist. Many over-the-counter treatments can burn the skin. Using sharp implements on your feet can cause an injury that may lead to infection.
Managing your diabetes is one of the best ways to keep your feet safe. Check out these resources for more information:
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