Living with diabetes requires vigilance and perseverance. Unfortunately, more Americans than ever are learning that the hard way. The most recent CDC estimates claim that 37.3 million Americans – nearly one in ten people – have diabetes.

Since it’s National Diabetes Month, Syracuse Podiatry is joining the cross-country effort to bring attention to this challenging chronic illness. To do so, we put together some helpful info concerning proper hygiene, regular monitoring, and timely medical intervention.

 To stay ahead when it comes to diabetes, you should:

Understand Risk Factors

• Diabetes can lead to complications that affect the circulatory and nervous systems, resulting in poor blood flow and nerve damage.
• Individuals with diabetes are more susceptible to developing wounds, especially on the feet.
• These wounds, if not managed properly, can lead to severe infections and even amputations.

Practice Consistent Foot Care

• Regular foot inspection is crucial for early detection of wounds or ulcers. Check in with your podiatrist whenever you can!
• Wash and dry your feet daily, paying close attention to abnormalities like blisters or corns.
• Keeping nails trimmed prevents cuts that sometimes occur when nails come in contact with nearby toes. Trim across the nail, using an emery board to carefully file down sharper parts.
• Wear appropriate footwear while working out to improve circulation.

In the event of a wound complication, our team is here and ready to help.

• One of our expert podiatrists will perform an examination immediately.
• We will assess the wound and take action to prevent any problems from spiraling out of control.
• Many different surgical procedures are available. Most are performed under local anesthesia, while some involve sedation.
• With gangrene and resulting bacterial infections, amputation might become necessary.

The best way to handle diabetes is to make sure that injuries and their ensuing complications never occur in the first place. But if all else fails, we’re acknowledged experts in wound care, and we’ll put that expertise to work for you immediately.

To learn more about what you can do to manage diabetes, contact us! Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, Dr. Donal M. Erickson, Dr. Keith Sherman, Dr. Anne-Louise Smith, Dr. Justin Muser, and Dr. Nicholas Cronin are world-class podiatrists, and they look forward to providing you with the best treatment available in Central New York.