Type I and Type II Diabetes - What It Means To Your Feet

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)Type I diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, appears early in life and means the body does not have the ability to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that converts glucose to energy. If glucose remains in the blood stream it can result in cell destruction. Type II diabetes is the inability of the body to produce enough insulin or break it down adequately.

Type I can strike at or before adolescence, where type II is more gradual to develop. While there are differences in the onset of diabetes, if treatment is not started early and pursued, the results can be devastating because both involve neuropathy, or the destruction of nerves in the body. You need to pay close attention to the feet, because this is a common location for nerve damage to first show signs. Early symptoms of neuropathy can include a numbing or tingling in the feet.

If you have diabetes, one of the major areas of concern is your feet. This is because the loss of feeling can allow a sore or break in the skin to go undetected, resulting in infection and possibly leading to amputation. People with diabetes need to make sure they are being evaluated by a podiatrist annually, or more frequently if needed.

Dr. Teichman can thoroughly check your feet, examine for sores, blisters, dry cracked skin, signs of athletes foot or other complications. He can prescribe a treatment program for your feet that will ward off more complicated foot problems. In conjunction to his examination and recommendations, he can educate you to precautions you can take. These include:

    •    Always wear shoes and socks to protect feet.

    •    Bathe feet daily pat dry and apply lotion.

    •    Examine feet daily and have your doctor treat minor problems of the feet and ankles. This includes corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, sores and athletes foot.

    •    Advise your doctor of sores or breaks in the skin. Seek immediate treatment.

    •    Wear closed toe and heel shoes that fit properly.

    •    Follow the diet and exercise program your doctor recommends.

With over 25 million people in the U.S., more than 8 percent of the population, the risks and complications from diabetes are staggering. If you are a person with diabetes, call Dr. Teichman’s office today at (610) 432-9593 to make sure you are scheduled for your annual exam. Never neglect your feet.

References:

http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/understanding-diabetes-symptoms
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/

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Peripheral Arterial Disease, not a life sentence

Image via WikipediaAre you one of the many who has noticed pain when you walk, but the pain disappears after a few moments of rest? Ever experience coldness in your leg or foot? You may be showing early signs of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Teichman.

Other symptoms may include:

•    Leg numbness or weakness
•    Sores on foot or leg that will not heal
•    Shiny skin on your legs
•    Loss of hair on legs
•    Change of skin color on legs

Peripheral Arterial Disease is a major complication that can develop from Diabetes. If you are diagnosed with PAD, treatment has two goals. First is to reduce or manage pain so that you may resume your normal activities, and the second is to prevent the buildup of artery blockage, which could cause you a stroke or heart attack.  Dr. Teichman can do a thorough evaluation to determine your risk and educate you on what needs to be done to help you manage your situation. If need be, he can help with the healing of ulcerated skin, advise you in proper footwear, perform treatment on corns and calluses, prescribe medications and also make other recommendations. You may be able to manage PAD by making some lifestyle changes that would include stop smoking as well as changes in diet and exercise, but there are some cases where surgery may have to be performed. This might include a procedure to unblock the arteries.

If you have peripheral arterial disease and it is allowed to go untreated, you could possibly experience pain that is so severe it may affect your very lifestyle. If you continue to ignore the warning signs, you could be placing your life at risk. As with any medical concern, it is best to seek treatment early.  Do not allow the symptoms to become increasingly worse. This is not a disease that will disappear in time if left untreated, and you risk amputation or possibly your life. 

If you experience pain, coldness, numbness or sores or infections that take a long time to heal or do not heal at all, call Dr. Teichman at (610) 432-9593.  He can evaluate you and get you started on an individual treatment plan. Peripheral Arterial does not have to be a life sentence. There are treatments available. 

References:

http://eastpennfoot.com/video-library

www.mayoclinic.com/health/peripheral-arterial-disease/DS00537/

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Diabetes and Dry Cracked Skin

Image via WikipediaDo you find it annoyingly painful to walk due to dry cracked skin on the heels of your feet? Have you tried lotions and potions, yet still have a difficult time treating this condition? We are here today to offer some practical suggestions to try to help you make things a bit more tolerable.

Dry cracked skin is usually most problematic during the winter months. Thickening and drying of the skin occurs, and deep cracks can appear, which makes it painful to even walk. For some, dry cracked heels are a mere cosmetic annoyance, but for a person with diabetes, it can pose a greater problem and health risks. What causes dry cracked skin?

    •    Age

    •    Existing skin conditions like psoriasis

    •    Diabetes

    •    Thyroid problems

    •    Vitamin deficiencies

    •    Excess weight

As we age, the skin loses its normal elasticity. Skin conditions caused by medical disorders can contribute to dryness and weight bearing can become problematic, especially if we stand for long periods of time and the skin is under excessive stress.  Any combination of these conditions can increase the likelihood of dry cracked skin.

Symptoms of dry cracked skin include discoloration (yellowish) and thickening of the skin. If it goes untreated, the skin can crack and bleed. Deepening cracks can harbor infections. People with diabetes should check their feet regularly, because they may have decreasing sensation in their feet due to nerve damage.

    •    Bathe feet daily, test for proper temperature and dry thoroughly.

    •    Apply vitamin enriched moisturizers to the feet, but not between toes.

    •    Use a pumice stone to remove dry and calloused skin.

    •    Wear shoes and socks to protect feet. Check them for small objects that could cause injury.

    •    Check your feet daily for sores. People with diabetes are at greater risk for infection.

For the person living with diabetes, proper foot care is essential. Have regular medical checkups, and do not be bashful about exposing your toes. Still, tell your doctor immediately if you have a concern about your feet. Some doctors may prescribe orthotics to help relieve pressure on problem areas. Follow their instructions closely. If you implement a sound plan of prevention, you should make it through the winter with fewer problems, but if you have a problem, call East Penn Foot & Ankle Associates for an appointment.

So what’s worked well for your feet and dry skin? We’d like to know so comment below!

References: 

www.footsmart.com/healthcondition.aspx?ailmentid=83
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_feet/#hurtfeet

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Diabetes - Living with Diabetes

Image by Newbirth35 via FlickrImage by Getty Images via @daylifeWhether you have just been diagnosed with diabetes or have had it for years, you know that life is different (or going to be) for those with diabetes than for those without.  If you are new to it, know that isn’t the end of your life.  Living with diabetes is much easier these days then it use to be.  There are just a couple things you now have to deal with. 

First of all, you need to make sure you watch what you eat.  Things with a lot of sugar should be avoided (though they should be avoided by everyone) so that you don’t spike your blood sugar exponentially.  But you also need to make sure that you are getting enough in your diet to keep your blood sugar from dropping too low.  Too high and your be in risk of eye, kidney, heart disease and nerve damage.  Too low and your run into feeling lethargic, possibly shaking, and you even might lose consciousness, which is never a good thing.  Make sure to watch your blood sugar levels regularly, but don’t get crazy about it.  It’s too much stress to be taking your blood sugar every hour, not to mention how much your finger tips will probably not like you. 

Second, make sure you take your medication when you’re suppose to.  If you have type two diabetes, this means that you inject your insulin when you need it.  Your doctor will let you know how much and how many times you need to take insulin in a day.  If you have type one diabetes, this means taking your pills on time.

The third major difference is that you are at a higher risk of developing neuropathy, which is a nerve damage in your feet, resulting in a inability to feel your feet.  If you have this already, make sure you monitor your feet daily for wounds.  For more on how to take care of your feet, click here. 

East Penn Foot & Ankle Associates would love to talk to you if you have any questions on how diabetes can effect your feet.  Contact us if you have  any questions.

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Diabetes Blog - Don’t Let Calluses Slow You Down

Image by Jill A. Brown via FlickrImage via WikipediaWhen a person has diabetes they also can develop neuropathy, which can cause damage to the nerves in the feet and can lead to loss of feeling and sensation, there is the heightened danger of developing ulcers from this loss of sensation or protective threshold.  Since people with diabetes lose the feeling in their feet, ulcers develop easier because they do not feel the discomfort that the ulcers cause. Since calluses are caused by the constant rubbing of a certain part of the shoe on a person’s foot, again – it isn’t felt and so the problem develops into a ulcer. Without neuropathy, this is usually felt and taken care of, but someone with neuropathy can’t feel the constant rubbing. Other issues can arise as a result of this rubbing – the next stage of an ulcer that hasn’t been taken care of can become very dangerous and can possibly lead to infection or even worse loss of limb.  

The danger comes in the next stage as a result of diabetic complications. A callus can be taken care of easily with routine visit to your podiatrist.  But the danger arises when a callus is fully developed and the constant rubbing continues to wear on the callus, the skin can and probably will split open and become an ulcer.  For a diabetic, a wound raises the risk of infections that can lead to that person having to have their foot amputated if it goes untreated or ignored.  This is why it is extremely important to make sure that if you have neuropathy, you need to check your feet daily!  If you catch the developing callus early, you’ll be able to take care of it before it gets worse.  It is highly recommended that you visit your podiatrist to treat the callus rather than getting treatments from the store, because your podiatrist can treat the callus more effectively and the callus will be controlled, rather than continue to develop and your podiatrist can make sure other problems do not arise.  Make sure you check your feet daily!  Getting that callus treated could save your foot from becoming a problem in the future!

If you do not have a podiatrist, Dr. Adam Teichman at East Penn Foot & Ankle Associates would love to be your podiatrist.  Check out our website at www.eastpennfoot.com or give us a call at 610-432-9593.

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Taking Care of Your Feet

If you have Diabetes, you need to constantly be on your guard for foot related injuries and problems.  So how should you take care of your feet?  Well here’s some helpful tips for you to follow as you seek to live pain free.

First, make sure you are inspecting your feet daily.  Check to see if there is any cuts, scrapes, redness, drainage, bad odor, rash, discoloration, loss of hair on toes, injuries, or if your nails have deformed, striped, yellowed, discolored, thickened or are not growing.  This way you’ll stay on top of any problems that might occur.  Another tip is to never ignore leg pain.  Leg pain could mean that you have a blocked artery, so make sure you contact your doctor immediately.  Make sure you trim your nails properly, cutting them straight, not curved.  Never trim your calluses or corns yourself and don’t use over-the-counter medicated pads, but rather contact your podiatrist to help you properly take care of the problem.  Do not go barefoot and make sure to keep floors free of sharp objects.  Also make it a habit to check your shoes and socks for any damage and make sure your socks are not bunched up anywhere on your feet. 

If you have diabetes, you should have your circulation and sense of feeling tested by a podiatrist to see if you have lost any feeling or circulation.  If you have, you probably won’t feel a cut or puncture on your foot.  That’s why it is important to inspect your feet daily, so that the wound can be taken care of properly and in a timely fashion.  That way, the wound won’t become an inflection, leading to an amputation of you leg.  Taking care of your feet is very important, to you and to us at East Penn Foot & Ankle Associates.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at www.eastpennfoot.com.