Diabetes Part 2: How to Avoid the Drastic by Routine Means

Many of you realize you can associate certain symptoms with particular illnesses.  But you also need to understand that when it comes to diabetes, some parts of the body reveal truisms that cannot be ignored. Your feet reveal details about your overall health that you would never guess. When you use the services of a trained foot and ankle specialist, oftentimes they are able to pick up on information that reveals health concerns that would otherwise go undetected.

Over eight percent of the American population suffers from diabetes, and many more areas of nerve damage that can ultimately result in loss of foot or lower limb. Staggering statistics reveal that the majority of lower limb loss due to diabetes could be avoided through early detection, treatment and diligent preventive foot care. Simply stated, in most cases amputation can be avoided by regular visits and closely following instructions of the expert podiatrists at Dallas Podiatry Works.

When a patient is diagnosed with diabetes, they need to begin work immediately, with a podiatrist, to develop a preventive care and treatment plan. It is important that an annual visit be scheduled and the patient receives counseling in how to do daily foot inspections and what to look for.  Regular foot inspections can help indicate the possibility of nerve damage. Once neuropathy occurs, it allows the possibility of severe ulcerations and infections, which cannot be resolved. This, in turn, can result in the need for amputation.

If you have diabetes you should do the following:

• Bathe feet daily and pat dry.
• Use a good foot lotion, but avoid getting it between the toes.
• Always wear shoes to prevent foot injury and make sure they have a deep wide roomy toe box.
• Make sure to wear clean and dry socks
• Proper nail grooming done by the Dallas Podiatry Works physicians.
• Examine your feet daily for signs of injury.
• Examine and feel inside shoes for things that may cause injury, but might not be felt because of loss of feeling in your feet.
• See the Dallas Podiatry Works specialists for an annual evaluation anytime you notice an injury to your foot, or have questions or concerns, about foot health
• Whenever you visit your health care provider, it should include a foot exam.

Early treatment is important. This will help avoid the type of severe ulcers and infection, which can result in amputation. If you have questions or concerns, call Dallas Podiatry Works at 972.853.7100 or (972) 943-3323. They offer comprehensive care for diabetic feet.