Taking care of your feet. More important than you think

Your feet are one of the most important parts of your body specially if you have diabetes

Over 26 bones are found in just that one part of the body that allows people to stand in an upright position and have the ability to move. Taking care of your feet should be a priority and so should taking special precautions if you have diabetes. 

It is known that individuals with diabetes are more prone to experience foot problems. These range in a variety of levels and gravity, but these are some of the symptoms to look out for:

• Pain in your legs or cramping in your buttocks, thighs, or calves during physical activity.
• Tingling, burning, or pain in your feet.
• Loss of sense of touch or ability to feel heat or cold very well.
• A change in the shape of your feet over time.
• Loss of hair on your toes, feet, and lower legs.
• Dry, cracked skin on your feet.
• A change in the color and temperature of your feet.
• Thickened, yellow toenails.
• Fungus infections such as athlete’s foot between your toes.
• A blister, ulcer, infected corn, or ingrown toenail.

If you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it would be best to get it checked with a Podiatrist. The Care Resource team has the doctors and medical team available to make these services accessible to all its patients. Most foot problems can be solved if taken care of early. The Care Resource podiatrist works together with your primary care physician to diagnose and treat the conditions that affect this area of your body.

According to Sandra Lee Franco, DPM, MS, Podiatric Surgeon with Care Resource, “Many people with diabetes experience complications with their feet. You can have nerve damage in any part of your body, but nerves in your feet and legs are most often affected. Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet. Nerve damage, along with poor blood flow puts you at risk for developing a foot ulcer that could get infected. If an infection doesn’t get better with treatment, your toe, foot, or part of your leg may need to be amputated.”

If taking care of your feet is important to you schedule a visit with a podiatrist from Care Resource call 305-576-1234 – Extension #470 (English) or #471 (Spanish). For more information and to learn more about the services that Care Resource offers its patients, visit CareResource.org.