Diabetic Feet We're Here For You Every Step Of The Way

Keeping diabetic feet healthy and pain-free

Caring for your feet when you have diabetes can feel daunting. We'll support you every step of the way. Here are some steps you can take at home to keep foot problems at bay.

Protecting Diabetic Feet
Proper care for your feet involves several steps, some more obvious than others, but all essential for your health and safety.

1. Diabetic Shoe Choices: Opt for shoes that fit comfortably - not too loose, not too tight. Your toes should have wiggle room, but your heel should feel supported and cradled. We can help
you find suitable footwear.

2. Nail Care: Keep your toenails short and straight.

3. Cleanliness: Wash your feet daily with mild soap and warm water. Dry them thoroughly afterwards.

4. Skin Care: Keep your skin moisturized to avoid cracks that invite infection. Apply lotion to the heels, tops, and bottoms of your feet, but avoid between your toes.

Lifestyle Choices and Diabetes
Certain lifestyle choices can have a significant impact on your diabetic foot health. Smoking constricts your blood vessels, exacerbating circulation problems associated with diabetes. However, exercise can be a beneficial lifestyle choice, promoting better circulation and weight loss. Low-impact exercises, like walking and swimming, can offer these benefits without putting excessive pressure on your feet. Before starting any exercise program, consult with us. We can identify potential issues and create a safe program for you.

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Neuropathy

Nerve damage, also known as neuropathy and characterized by numbness, tingling, sharp pain or cramping in the feet, can significantly impact your quality of life.

To treat diabetic foot neuropathy, my approach begins with thorough diagnostics to assess the extent and nature of your nerve damage. From there, I develop a customized care plan tailored to your needs.

What causes diabetic neuropathy?

It's a consequence of diabetes where high blood sugar levels impact the nerves in the feet and lower limbs. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, such as numbness, tingling, burning pain, loss of sensation, muscle weakness, skin discoloration, and an increased likelihood of diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetic neuropathy can range from mild to severe, and without proper treatment, it tends to get worse over time. We’re here to help you manage your diabetic neuropathy, to monitor the health of your feet, to prescribe orthotics when needed, and to take care of any injuries or foot wounds.

Neuropathy, especially when undiagnosed, can be quite serious. Peripheral neuropathy, which impacts your peripheral nervous system and primarily occurs in the feet, can be triggered by a myriad of causes, such as diabetes, infections, cancers, disorders, and exposure to toxic substances. The symptoms can include sensation loss, prickling and tingling sensations, throbbing, freezing, burning pains, and muscle weakness.

Individuals with diabetes need to be particularly cautious, as the inability to feel an ulcer on the feet due to neuropathy, paired with poor blood circulation often associated with diabetes, can lead to a non-healing wound, potential infection, and in severe cases, may necessitate limb amputation.

Depending on your diagnosis, the nerve may still be alive. If so, there’s a chance that sensation can return to the foot.

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Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)

Peripheral Vascular Disease or PVD is a disorder that affects the blood vessels outside your heartand brain, with your foot and ankle being the most common areas impacted. Diabetes increasesyour risk of PVD.

Many PVD cases involve occlusion (blockage) of the arteries due to cholesterol, a condition we callatherosclerosis, or due to calcification of the blood vessels. Both situations result in a diminishedblood supply to the lower extremities. This blood supply is crucial as it carries oxygen and nutritionrequired for maintaining tissue health.

The Effects of PVD
PVD can cause functional and visual changes in the lower extremity. You might experience ischemicpain, which is pain caused by reduced blood flow, during activities. This pain is known asclaudication and can alleviate during rest. However, if PVD progresses, this pain may continue evenwhen you're resting.There are also visual indications of PVD. Your nails may become thick and brittle, hair growth candecrease, skin temperature may change, and the skin may become shiny, thin, or thick. You mighteven notice changes in skin color. As a patient with PVD, your risk increases for ulceration,amputation, and even severe, life-threatening infections.

Recognizing the Symptoms
It's essential to be aware of urgent symptoms of PVD like non-healing wounds, worsening wounds,and gangrene. Gangrene occurs when tissues lose their vitality due to insufficient blood flow andoxygen, indicating that blood flow is less than adequate for the tissues' basic metabolic needs forsurvival. The disease location can also influence survival rates in patients with peripheral arterialdisease.

At Haro Podiatry Center, we guide you in understanding PVD and taking preventive measures tomanage your condition and will work tirelessly to help you regain your active, healthy life.

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Diabetic Feet We're Here For You Every Step Of The Way

Keeping diabetic feet healthy and pain-free

Neuropathy

Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)

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Serving adults and children in the Clifton, NJ area