Diabetics Must Monitor Their Feet Closely
By MARK BEYLIN, DPM, FACFAS // July 21, 2012
PODIATRY
According to the American Diabetes Association, about 15.7 million people (5.9 percent of the United States population) have diabetes.
Nervous system damage (also called neuropathy) affects about 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes and is a major complication that may cause diabetics to lose feeling in their feet or hands.
Foot problems are a big risk in diabetics. Diabetics must constantly monitor their feet or face severe consequences, including amputation.
With a diabetic foot, a wound as small as a blister from wearing a shoe that’s too tight can cause a lot of damage.
Diabetes decreases blood flow, so injuries are slow to heal. When your wound is not healing, it’s at risk for infection. As a diabetic, your infections spread quickly.
If you have diabetes, you should inspect your feet every day. Look for puncture wounds, bruises, pressure areas, redness, warmth, blisters, ulcers, scratches, cuts and nail problems. Get someone to help you, or use a mirror.
Tips for Taking Care of Your Feet
• Always keep your feet warm
• Don’t get your feet wet in the rain
• Don’t smoke or sit cross-legged Both decrease blood supply to your feet.
• Don’t soak your feet
• Don’t use antiseptic solutions, drugstore medications, heating pads or sharp instruments on your feet
• Trim your toenails straight across. Avoid cutting the corners. Use a nail file or emery board. If you find an ingrown toenail, consult a podiatrist
• Use quality lotion to keep the skin of your feet soft and moist, but don’t put any lotion between your toes
• Wash your feet every day with mild soap and warm water
• Wear loose socks to bed
• Wear warm socks and shoes in cool weather
• When drying your feet, pat each foot with a towel and be careful between your toes
• Buy shoes that are comfortable without a “breaking in” period. Check how your shoe fits in width, length, back, bottom of heel, and sole. Avoid pointed-toe styles and high heels. Try to get shoes made with leather upper material and deep toe boxes. Wear new shoes for only two hours or less at a time. Don’t wear the same pair everyday. Inspect the inside of each shoe before putting it on. Don’t lace your shoes too tightly or loosely.
• Choose socks and stockings carefully. Wear clean, dry socks every day. Avoid socks with holes or wrinkles. Thin cotton socks are more absorbent for summer wear. Square-toes socks will not squeeze your toes. Avoid stockings with elastic tops.
Diabetic Foot Ulcers
When your feet become numb, they are at risk for becoming deformed. One way this happens is through ulcers. Open sores may become infected. Another way is the bone condition Charcot (pronounced “sharko”) foot.
This is one of the most serious foot problems you can face. It warps the shape of your foot when your bones fracture and disintegrate, and yet you continue to walk on it because it doesn’t hurt. Diabetic foot ulcers and early phases of Charcot fractures can be treated with a total contact cast.
The shape of your foot molds the cast. It lets your ulcer heal by distributing weight and relieving pressure. If you have Charcot foot, the cast controls your foot’s movement and supports its contours if you don’t put any weight on it.
To use a total contact cast, you need good blood flow in your foot. The cast is changed every week or two until your foot heals.
A custom-walking boot is an another way to treat your Charcot foot. It supports the foot until all the swelling goes down, which can take as long as a year.
You should keep from putting your weight on the Charcot foot. Surgery is considered if your deformity is too severe for a brace or shoe.
For more information you may reach Dr. Beylin by calling 321-452-1327.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Beylin, DPM, FACFAS, is a partner at Merritt Island Foot & Ankle, and attended Barry University School of Graduate Medical Sciences where he earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Degree. Dr. Beylin did his residency at Northwest Medical Center in Margate, Florida, where he performed 2,100 surgeries, and spent a rotation in Sweden working with world-renowned foot and ankle orthopedists. Dr. Beylin focuses on all aspects of the foot and ankle surgery, especially trauma, reconstructive surgery, Charcot surgery, ankle joint replacement surgery and workers compensation cases. He has privileges at Wuesthoff Medical Center and Cape Canaveral Hospital, and is a member of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association, American Podiatric Medical Association, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management. For more information you may reach Dr. Beylin by calling 321-452-1327.
