Protecting Feet from Diabetic Foot Complications

 

Taking proper care of your feet when you have diabetes is extremely important. Preventative action can help you reduce your risk of diabetic wounds or ulcers. Paying special attention to your feet and seeing a podiatrist regularly can significantly decrease your risk of limb amputation. Here are a few tips on how to care for your feet:

 

·         See a podiatrist regularly to check for nerve damage or circulation problems

·         Do not leave minor infections, such as ingrown nails, left untreated

·         Examine your feet for wounds or injuries that you may not be able to feel due to nerve damage

·         Tell your doctor about any skin changes or swelling in the feet

·         Choose roomy shoes to avoid any irritation against your feet

·         Ask your doctor about orthotics and prescribed diabetic shoes

The sooner a problem can be identified and treated, the better. Any changes in your feet should be discussed with your health care provider.

 

Image by sellyourseoul. (2010). Sport Massage at The Foot Shop. Flickr

What your Feet say about your Health

Taking a quick look at your feet can help detect a variety of health problems. Your feet contain a quarter of the body’s bones and each foot contains 33 joints; 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments; and countless nerves and blood vessels that link to your heart, spine and brain. Here are a few signs and symptoms and what they could lead your doctor to diagnosing:

·         Hair loss on the feet or toes could mean poor circulation caused by vascular disease

·         A sore that won’t heal on the foot can be a clue to diabetes

·         Persistently cold feet can indicate a thyroid issue

·         Numbness in both feet can mean damage to the peripheral nervous system

·         Sore toe joins can mean rheumatoid arthritis

·         Little holes in the nails can mean psoriasis

·         Feet that are painful to walk on can mean a stress fracture

If you feel like your feet may be sending you a warning sign, talk to your healthcare professional. They may be able to give glues into an underlying problem.

 

Image by Shawn Hayes. (2009). Feet. Flickr.

Aging Feet & Immobility

Aging is a real concern in today's society as the average age that people are living to is increasing. More people living longer means that there will be more people living with impairment of the lower extremities. The leading cause of limited activity in older people is the impairment of the lower extremities. Living with limited mobility then affects other areas of the body such as knee, hip, and lower back pain. According to the US National Center for Health Statistics, one-fourth of all nursing home patients can't walk and one-sixth needs assistance when walking.

Years of neglect or abuse of the lower extremities causes more problems later in life. Normal wear and tear throughout the years is also a factor in future mobility of the elderly. Prevention is important for older people for many reasons. One of the main reasons to have lower extremities checked as one gets older is to ensure future mobility. Comfort and limiting additional medical problems to reduce the chances of hospitalization are also reasons to maintain visits to a Podiatrist. Another major reason is cost. Bedridden patients cost much more than that care for an ambulatory patient.

Podiatric physicians are providing services designed to keep older people on their feet. If you or someone you know displays signs of dry skin, brittle nails, burning and tingling sensations, feelings of cold, numbness, and discoloration of the foot, seek medical attention by a Podiatrist since there are more than 300 different foot ailments.

Image by Borya. (2005). Elderly woman + her view. Flickr. 

Arthritis 101

Arthritis comes in many different forms, over 100, and occurs in men and women of all ages even though most people think that arthritis only occurs later in life. In America, about 37 million people have arthritis, which is about 1 out of every 7 people. Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints and results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement of the extremities.

Cartilage is what normally protects the joints of the hands and feet and it is what allows smooth movement by absorbing shock when pressure is placed on the joint. With arthritis, cartilage has been broken down to the point where bones rub together causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. This is why the major complaint by people with arthritis is joint pain.

Joint inflammation is caused by a variety of reasons and usually goes away after treatment:

• Normal wear and tear on joints
• Infection
• Broken bone
• Autoimmune disease

Some symptoms of Arthritis:

• Joint pain
• Joint swelling
• Reduced ability to move the joint
• Redness of the skin around a joint
• Stiffness
• Warmth around a joint

Contact my office when:

• Joint pain lasts longer than 3 days
• One has severe unexplained joint pain
• Joint is significantly swollen
• Difficulty in moving the joint
• Skin around the joint is red or hot

Image by bark. 40+60 Feet, Euw. (2009).