Diabetic Feet Specialist
Philadelphia Podiatry Associates
Podiatrists located in Philadelphia, PA
If you have diabetes, you are at a higher risk of developing foot injuries and will need to have regular appointments to monitor your feet. Dr. David Geltzer and Dr. Neil Rapoport offer comprehensive diabetic foot care services to patient from throughout Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at their practice, Philadelphia Podiatry Associates. If you’re a diabetic looking for personal attention and extensive treatment, call or schedule a consultation online today.
Diabetic Feet Q & A
How does diabetes affect a person’s feet?
Diabetes is a disease where your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t process insulin effectively. Insulin is the naturally occurring chemical that regulates your blood sugar levels. When your glucose, or blood sugar, level is too high, you may experience nerve damage and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) Peripheral neuropathy often causes numbness in the legs and feet, which not only makes it more likely that you’ll injure yourself, but less likely that you’ll notice an injury. Diabetes also causes circulation problems, which means your feet don’t get sufficient blood flow and the essential oxygen and nutrients for tissue repair.
This combination of unhealed injuries and loss of sensation can make it hard for you to notice when an injury has occurred and take steps to aid the healing process. This allows for even minor injuries to result in long-term damage to the foot or limbs.
In extreme situations, untreated diabetic foot ulcers and injuries can lead to amputation.
What symptoms indicate my risk for diabetes-related foot damage?
There are several symptoms you should check for when checking feet for injuries and other issues that could lead to injury. For example, a blister could develop into a sore that may take too long to heal and result in an infection.
You should also monitor your feet and ankles for unexplained swelling. Changes in the color or temperature of skin are additional warning signs. Diabetics also need to be careful to avoid nail fungus. Finally, numbness or tingling in your feet and toes may be a sign of nerve damage.
Dr. Geltzer and Dr. Rapoport help diabetics to learn to monitor their feet at home and offer regular foot checkups to help keep your feet as healthy as possible.
How can I protect my feet?
Regular foot exams are the front line of defense to ensure that your feet are not damaged or infected. Education about foot problems is helpful for many people who don’t know how to effectively treat and care for their feet, especially given the increased risk associated with diabetes.
Dr. Geltzer and Dr. Rapoport have helped patients to reduce the incidents of foot infection or pain. Dr. Geltzer and Dr. Rapoport will give you the highest level of care and assist in ensuring that feet do not become critically injured to require surgery.