Diabetes is a serious medical condition. More than 37 million Americans suffer from diabetes. The importance of foot care when you have diabetes can not be overstated. Dr. Cosimo Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel of Emerald Coast Podiatry offers diabetic foot care in Crestview & Fort Walton Beach, FL.
What Is Diabetes?
The CDC defines diabetes as a chronic health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. When you eat, your body turns the food into glucose, but the cells can't use that energy unless the pancreas releases insulin, which is the key to opening the cells. If this doesn't happen, the sugar will stay in your bloodstream and cause health problems including heart and kidney disease and loss of vision. The best way to control issues is to control your diabetes.
Diabetes and Your Feet
About 50% of people with diabetes suffer from nerve damage. Diabetic retinopathy is peripheral nerve damage to the feet. Most of the time, both feet are affected. You may notice tingling in your feet, numbness, and an increase in pain at night. When the loss of feeling in your feet occurs, the danger increases that a serious condition will develop from something as simple as a blister. Healing doesn't happen and infection can set in.
Diabetic Foot Care in Crestview & Fort Walton Beach , FL
First and foremost, you need to keep your diabetes under control. You need to take the medication recommended by our doctor religiously. If you are overweight, losing weight is a top priority. Having your blood pressure and cholesterol within the recommended level is also vital. Age is an issue, but you really can't help it if you are over 40, but you can have better control of your general health by avoiding drinking and smoking.
You need to look after your feet at home. Don't walk barefoot. Make sure that your shoes are supportive and fit well. Examine your feet regularly and make regular appointments with your podiatrist. If you cut your own toenails, they should be cut straight across, but you can also opt to get them cut by a podiatrist. Keep your feet well moisturized so that cracks that can become infected won't develop. Wash and thoroughly dry your feet every day in warm water, beware of placing heat on your feet, since the nerves are not going to pick up heat that can burn.
Contact Dr. Ricciardi and Dr. Patel of Emerald Coast Podiatry when you are in need of diabetic foot care in Crestview & Fort Walton Beach , FL. Call (850) 862-4119 to reach our Fort Walton Beach offices and (850) 682-6522 for our Crestview office.