Proper Diabetic Foot Care Should Not Be Overlooked

DIABETIC FOOT CARE

As podiatrists (foot and ankle specialists), Dr. Silvers & Dr. Williams see a large amount of diabetic patients at their McKinney, Texas and Prosper, Texas Office Locations. These patients are usually referred from primary care physicians or endocrinologists, or patients themselves concerned about their foot health come to our clinic. Diabetic patients have to take extra special care of their to prevent ulcerations, infections, and even amputations. Listed below are a few helpful tips for diabetics concerned with how to take proper precautions and protect their feet. Take these steps to help prevent diabetic foot complications:

1. Check your feet everyday! This is an absolute necessity. If you can’t reach your feet, have a friend or family member check your feet. If needed, put a mirror on the floor and put your foot over it to look for cuts, scraps, bruises, openings or areas of irritation. Make sure you check between your toes. Very moist areas, white areas or red areas are bad. Check for foot fungus, patchy, scaly white areas between your toes or on the bottom of the feet. Check for irritated areas with redness or swelling. Check for infection. Redness, pus and drainage are signs of infection. Look for ingrown nails.

2. Check your shoes before you put your feet in them. Small pebbles or rocks can hide in the shoe. Put your hand in first and check it before you place your foot into the shoe. Items that I have found in patient’s shoes include socks, stockings, staples, rocks, legos and even a pencil. The most common response when I pull these items out of their shoe is “How did that get in there?”

3. Don’t walk around barefoot or in sandals. Splinters and needles can be hidden in the carpet and can puncture a foot without sensation. Punctures can go unnoticed. Unprotected feet can be more damaged when bumped or hit against furniture.



4. Watch out for folds in your socks. Believe it or not, small folds in the socks can lead to ulcers and infections. Rough seams in the socks can also cause areas of irritation that may lead to skin breakdown and ulceration. Avoid cotton socks and choose synthetic blends, polypropylene, acrylic, diabetic socks or small fiber wool blends.

5. Dry off your feet after showers and dry between your toes. Increased moisture between your toes can lead to the skin breaking down. This will eventually lead to an ulcer between the toes. Ulcers between the toes are very difficult to cure.

6. Don’t be a victim of fashion. High fashion shoes usually lead to a high number of problems in the feet. Make sure the shoes are wide enough. Don’t buy shoes that are too wide or too long which can cause a lot of slipping. Pick shoes that are soft and flexible and allow for cushioning on the top and sides, but are rigid on the sole. Make sure they don’t fold in half. You may be eligible for your insurance to pay for diabetic extra-depth shoes with custom insoles. These shoes will take the pressure off your feet. Ask your doctor. 



7. Check your bath water with your hand before you put your foot in it. The temperature your foot feels is much different from the temperature your hand feels when you have neuropathy. Make sure to check the temperature with your hand. This will be much more accurate than testing the water with your foot.

8. Don’t use a heating pad on your feet. This may cause burns without you realizing it. This has specifically happened to my diabetic grandfather who in result had to receive repeated wound care and eventually a skin graft to bottom of his foot.

9. Do not use medicated corn pads or any medicated pads from the local drug store. These medicated pads are usually not effective and may cause a chemical burn on the surrounding skin. Don’t use any medication on the skin unless you are instructed to do so by your podiatrist.

10. Do not cut your own toenails. If you have loss of sensation or poor blood supply, make sure you have a podiatrist trim your toenails.



11. Do not trim your own calluses or corns. As mentioned above, if you have a loss of sensation or blood supply then have your podiatrist trim your corns or calluses.

12. Lose Weight. Easier said than done, but this is one of the most important steps you can take for your overall diabetes health and foot health. Your feet are not designed to carry that extra 100 pounds, that extra 50 pounds or even that extra 20 pounds. The more pressure on your feet, the more problems you will develop.

13. Exercise. Not only will exercise help you lose weight, contribute to your health, it will also help increase the circulation in your legs and feet.



14. STOP SMOKING! This applies to everyone, but especially to diabetics. Smoking causes the blood vessels to shrink. Smoking contributes to clogging of the arteries. Smoking also makes it more difficult for the nutrients in the blood to get to the areas they are needed. Diabetes + Smoking = Disaster.

15. Visit a podiatrist regularly.

If you have diabetes and are seeking treatment and advice, please come visit Advanced Foot and Ankle. Dr. Silvers is a board certified foot and ankle specialist practicing in McKinney, Texas and Proper, Texas. He sees patients from North Dallas, McKinney, Plano, Allen, Prosper, Frisco, Melissa, Anna and Princeton, Texas. To Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Silvers, please call 972-542-2155 or visit our website at http://www.advancedfoottexas.com

Dr. Kory Williams will be joining McKinney Foot and Ankle and Advanced Foot and Ankle in July of 2009. Both Dr. Silvers and Dr. Williams strive to deliver the utmost quality foot and ankle care with a compassionate bedside manner. Our doctors have 5 years of combined foot and ankle post graduate training and over 11 years of private practice experience. Both Dr. Silvers and Dr. Williams are respected speakers in the field of Podiatric Medicine, Surgery and Practice Management. Dr. Silvers is the Past President of the Dallas County Podiatric Medical Society.

Eric M. Silvers, DPM, PA
Board Certified Foot and Ankle Specialist
Advanced Foot and Ankle Center
McKinney, Texas
Prosper, Texas
http://www.advancedfoottexas.com
972-542-2155

Aging Feet

AGING OF THE FEETOver time, normal changes to the feet can occur. The feet are under a tremendous amount of pressure during daily activity. While walking, each step puts two to three times as much force as the person’s body weight.This pressure can alter the structure of the foot as the person ages. Feet can become slightly longer and wider. Some women experience such changes during pregnancy due to the added pressure of pregnancy-related weight gain and also due to their hormones causing increased body flexibility including the foot.There might be a slight flattening of the arch of the foot. This is normal as long as it is neither excessive nor causes pain. The foot and ankle may lose some flexibility with age as does many joints and muscles in the body. The pad of fat at the bottom of the heel may become thinner with age. Though these changes are unlikely to cause serious problems, they may be accompanied with a loss of balance.Any foot changes that cause pain or deformities should be checked by a McKinney, Texas podiatric physician. Thickening of the skin such as corns or bony growths like bunions are not part of normal aging. Changes in the shape or alignment of the toes could be signs of problems with the muscles of the foot. A McKinney, Texas podiatric physician can diagnose the condition and recommend appropriate treatment.Pain is not part of normal foot changes. Pain can indicate a problem with the nerves, such as Morton’s neuromas. It could also be due to fasciitis or other painful foot problems. Discolorations of the feet should not occur. Discoloration could be a sign of a circulation problem.Arthritis is a common problem among older adults. Arthritis can cause problems with the feet. Arthritis in the feet can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness. Though there is no cure for arthritis, medical treatment can limit its damage and debilitating effects. A McKinney, Texas Foot and Ankle Specialist should be consulted for any foot problems that are not part of normal aging.Dr. Kory Williams is a foot and ankle specialist trained to treat all foot and ankle problems including thoses associated with aging. He practices with Dr. Eric Silvers in both McKinney, Texas and Prosper, Texas. You may contact our office at 972-542-2155. Advanced Foot and Ankle Center in Prosper, Texas and McKinney Foot and Ankle Center in McKinney, Texas offer comprehensive treatment for all foot and ankle problems. You may visit our website at www.advancedfoottexas.com for more information about our practice.

Eric M. Silvers, DPM, PA
Board Certified Foot and Ankle Specialist
Advanced Foot and Ankle Center
McKinney, Texas
Prosper, Texas
http://www.advancedfoottexas.com
972-542-2155