Don’t Put Off Diabetic Foot Care

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At Goldsmith Podiatry, we know that the health focus of the last few months here in Manhattan has most definitely been COVID 19. Many patients were hesitant to attend to other medical issues during the height of the pandemic as they did their best to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus. If you have diabetes, however, putting off routine care and getting new symptoms evaluated can pose a major health threat. Non-healing wounds and ulcers can lead to a serious infection and even amputation if not detected and treated early.

As part of your daily care regimen, diabetic patients should be conducting a self-exam of their feet. Warning signs to look for include:

  • Discoloration of the skin or toenails

  • Swelling

  • Bruising

  • Cuts or sores that don’t seem to be healing

  • Blisters

  • Rashes

  • Redness

  • Growths

  • Warmth surrounding an irritation on the foot

If you have noticed any of these symptoms or other abnormalities in your feet, contact our Upper West Side office immediately by calling (212) 877-1002. Our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia will want to examine your feet and determine if an ulcer or other potential problem is developing.

Safety Tips

Also, if you have diabetes, there are several other ways you can protect the health of your feet:

  • Don’t attempt to treat an ingrown toenail, wart or callus on your own. Do not use any sharp implements or chemical treatments on your feet. These could result in serious injury and infection. Contact the podiatrist if you have one of these issues.

  • Keep feet covered, even at home. It will greatly reduce your risk of stepping on a sharp object that could cause a cut on the bottom of your foot that you might not detect right away.

  • Change your socks as soon as you perceive that feet are damp from sweat. Allowing feet to sit in moist socks encourages fungal infections.

  • Do not step into a bath without checking the water with your hand or elbow. Neuropathy in the feet can make it difficult to gauge temperature accurately and could lead to a burn.

If you have diabetes and have questions about the care of your feet, don’t hesitate to contact us
212-877-1002

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