Diabetic Foot Care - Podiatrist in Newington, Glastonbury and Kensington, CT - Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM

Diabetic Foot Care - Podiatrist in Newington, Glastonbury and Kensington, CT - Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM Podiatrist Dr. Jeffrey S. Kahn of Connecticut Foot Care Centers discusses why diabetics must come in for a comprehensive foot exam to avoid the complications of diabetes. http://www.ctfootcare.com Diabetes is a lifelong chronic disease that is caused by high levels of sugar in the blood. It can also decrease your body's ability to fight off infections, which is especially harmful in your feet. When diabetes is not properly controlled, damage can occur to the organs and impairment of the immune system is also likely to occur. With damage to your nervous system, you may not be able to feel your feet properly. Normal sweat secretion and oil production that lubricates the skin of the foot is impaired, which can lead to an abnormal pressure on the skin, bones, and joints of the foot during walking and other activities. This can even lead to the breakdown of the skin of the foot, which often causes sores to develop. If you have diabetes, it is important to prevent foot problems before they occur, recognize problems early, and seek the right treatment when a problem does happen. Diabetic Complications and Your Feet When it comes to your feet, there are several risk factors that can increase your chances of developing foot problems and diabetic infections in the legs and feet. First of all, poorly fitting shoes are one of the biggest culprits of diabetic foot complications. If you have red spots, sore spots, blisters, corns, calluses, or consistent pain associated with wearing shoes, new proper fitted shoes must be obtained immediately. Additionally, if you have common foot abnormalities such as flat feet, bunions, or hammertoes, prescription shoes or orthotics from your podiatrist may be necessary to further protect your feet from other damage. People who have long-standing or poorly controlled diabetes are also at risk for having damage to the nerves in their feet, which is known in the medical community as peripheral neuropathy. If you have nerve damage, you may not be able to feel your feet normally and you may also be unable to sense the position of your feet and toes while walking and balancing, which can cause even more harm to your feet. Normal nerves allow people to sense if their shoes are too tight or if their shoes are rubbing on the feet too much. With diabetes, you may not be able to properly sense minor injuries, such as cuts, scrapes and blisters-all signs of abnormal wear, tear, and foot strain. The following can also compromise the health of your feet: • Poor circulation • Trauma to the foot • Infections • Smoking Diabetes can be extremely dangerous to your feet, so take precautions now. You can avoid serious problems such as losing a toe, foot, or leg by following proper prevention techniques offered by your podiatrist. Remember, prevention is the key to saving your feet and eliminating pain. Schedule an appointment: Podiatrist - Rocky Hill - 506 Cromwell Avenue Rocky Hill, CT06067 860-563-1200 Podiatrist - Newington - 505 Willard Avenue Building 2 Suite D Newington, CT 06111 (860) 666-2078 Podiatrist - Middletown - 535 Saybrook Road Middletown, CT 06457 (860) 346-5226 Podiatrist - Glastonbury - 300 Hebron Avenue Suite 105 Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860) 633-6749 Podiatrist - Bristol - 51 Burlington Avenue Bristol, CT 06010 (860) 582-0747 Podiatrist - Kensington - 949 Farmington Avenue Kensington, CT 06037 (860) 828-9455 Visit our website: http://www.ctfootcare.com