How your podiatrist in Brooklyn Heights, NY, can help your feet when you have diabetes

Diabetes can cause serious damage to your body, especially to your feet. You want your feet to stay healthy because they do an important job–they support your weight. Diabetes can have harmful effects on your feet, which is why you need to find out all you can about diabetic foot care.

Dr. Joseph C. Stuto and Dr. Joseph A. Stuto at Stuto Foot Specialist Podiatry in Brooklyn Heights, NY, provide comprehensive foot and ankle services, including treatment of diabetic feet.

If you are one of the over 29 million people in the United States who have diabetes, you probably already know how it can affect your feet. Consider that having diabetes can cause:

Loss of sensation and feeling in your feet–that means if you cut or burn your feet, you may not feel it.

Peripheral neuropathy–that means you may experience sharp, stabbing pain in your feet, which can be disabling.

Decreased blood flow to your extremities–that means your tissue may die, resulting in the need for amputations of feet or toes.

Delayed or restricted healing–that means if you have a small cut, blister, or other injury, it can turn into a painful diabetic ulcer.

Proper care of diabetic feet should only take a few minutes out of your day. Remember to:

• Wash and dry your feet daily and apply lotion to keep your skin from drying and cracking
• Examine your feet every day for cuts, blisters, or other injuries
• Apply antibiotic cream to any open cuts or injuries and bandage the area to prevent infection
• Do ankle and foot exercises and stretches to boost circulation in your feet and toes
• Always wear supportive shoes and avoid going barefoot

One of the most important steps you can take when you have diabetes is to visit your podiatrist regularly for an examination of your feet and toes. Your podiatrist is an expert at diagnosis and treatment of foot problems due to diabetes.

To find out more about the importance of diabetic foot care and how your podiatrist can help, call Dr. Joseph C. Stuto and Dr. Joseph A. Stuto at Stuto Foot Specialist Podiatry in Brooklyn Heights, NY. You can reach them in the office by calling (718) 624-7537, so call now.