Jan
28
Foot Pain? You May Have Diabetes
Filed Under Foot Health
Do you ever feel burning, tingling or numbness in your feet and toes? A Chelmsford, MA, foot and ankle surgeon warns against ignoring those symptoms. They could be a warning sign of diabetes.
Timothy M. Downs, DPM, FACFAS, says those symptoms may be caused by a condition called diabetic peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage. Neuropathy in the feet can lead to permanent numbness, deformities such as bunions and hammertoes, and dry skin that cracks open and won’t heal.
“Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is not only painful but dangerous,” says Dr. Downs, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons with offices in Chelmsford, MA,. “It’s a leading contributor to foot ulcers in people with diabetes.”
Burning, tingling and numbness in toes can also be symptoms of thyroid problems, nutritional deficiencies, back problems and pinched nerves in the ankles. In the United States, diabetes is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy and can lead to further foot complications.
Out of the 23 million Americans with diabetes, one in four has not been diagnosed. Some people learn they have diabetes only after seeing a doctor for burning, tingling and numbness in their toes and feet. Many people already diagnosed with diabetes are not familiar with neuropathy’s symptoms. According to FootPhysicians.com, even diabetic patients who have excellent blood sugar control can develop diabetic neuropathy.
Medications can treat pain caused by neuropathy. However, nerve damage cannot be reversed.
“When you have diabetes, especially diabetic neuropathy, a minor cut on your foot can turn into a catastrophe,” says Dr. Downs. “The statistics on diabetic ulcers are sobering.”
Twenty percent of diabetes patients who develop ulcers will require an amputation. Patients who are black, Hispanic and Native American are twice as likely as whites to need a diabetes-related amputation. Half of all people with diabetes who have a toe or foot amputation die within three years. The annual cost for diabetic ulcer care in the U.S. is estimated at $5 billion.
For more information on foot problems such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, contact Dr. Downs at www.nefootankle.com.
Jan
22
Got gout? If so, a Chelmsford, MA, foot and ankle surgeon has a recommendation for surviving the holidays: Watch what you eat and drink.
Changes in diet, including overindulging in certain foods and beverages, can cause gout attacks this time of year, says Jerold H. Fleishman, DPM, FACFAS. Dr. Fleishman is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) with offices in Chelmsford, MA.
Gout attacks are extremely painful. They are caused when uric acid accumulates in the tissues or a joint and crystallizes. This most commonly occurs in the big toe joint. Dr. Fleishman explains this is because the toe is the coolest part of the body and uric acid is sensitive to temperature changes.
He says foods that are high in purines contribute to uric acid build-up. He recommends that people prone to gout attacks avoid purine-rich items such as shellfish (shrimp, crab, etc.), organ meats (kidney, liver, etc.), red meat, red wine and beer.
Gout can be treated with medications, diet changes, increasing consumption of appropriate fluids, and immobilizing the foot. In some cases surgery is required to remove the uric acid crystals and repair the joint.
For contact information visit www.nefootankle.com
Jan
15
With the observance of National Diabetes Month in November, Timothy M. Downs, DPM, FACFAS, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons with offices in Chelmsford, MA, reminds residents with diabetes that following simple foot care tips can reduce their risk of toe, foot or leg amputations.
People with diabetes are 10 times more likely to have a lower limb amputated than people without diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Downs says the disease can cause poor blood circulation and nerve damage in the feet, making them vulnerable to developing ulcers, infections, deformities and brittle bones.
The ACFAS consumer Web site FootPhysicians.com provides these foot care tips for people with diabetes:
· Inspect feet daily for injuries that could lead to dangerous ulcers.
· Gently wash feet in lukewarm (not hot!) water.
· Moisturize feet, avoiding the area between the toes.
· Never trim corns or calluses; this can lead to serious infections.
· Inspect the inside of shoes before wearing.
People with diabetes must always be vigilant, says Dr. Downs, and see a foot and ankle surgeon at the first sign of trouble. Early treatment can keep diabetic foot problems from progressing, and reduce the risk of amputations.
To contact Dr. Downs, www.nefootankle.com.
