If you have diabetes, you are probably already aware of the importance of being proactive in the care of your feet. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we are your partner in helping you maintain good foot health.

Below are 5 recommendations to help avoid potentially dangerous podiatric problems for patients with diabetes:

1. Manage your diabetes. Follow all your doctor’s instructions for keeping your blood sugar levels where they should be. This, in turn, will lessen the problems associated with the disease that can negatively impact the health of your feet.
2. Avoid walking barefoot. Even in your own home, it’s easy to step on a pin or sharp object and cut your foot. Loss of sensation (or neuropathy), which is often a symptom of diabetes, can make it difficult to detect an injury on the bottom of the foot until it has become infected.
3. Inspect your feet regularly. Common foot conditions such as athlete’s foot, warts and blisters can result in big problems for those with diabetes. Circulation difficulties and immune system dysfunction often associated with diabetes means that foot conditions and injuries can be difficult to treat. An infection can have very serious consequences. Look for any signs of injury or unusual changes in your toes, feet and ankles. If you find anything suspicious, contact our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can examine your foot and head off any potential problems.
4. Wear good shoes. Choose styles with a cushioned sole and slip-proof tread. Be sure the toe box is wide enough to avoid squeezing toes together. Check the material inside the shoe to be sure there are no rough spots that could create friction and cause a blister on the skin.
5. Do not expose your feet to direct heat. You should also not use electric blankets or foot warmers. You may not be able to accurately gauge how hot the temperature is and could burn your feet.

If you have questions regarding the best ways to care for your feet if you have diabetes, contact us today.

Your choices in footwear are important no matter what your lifestyle is like. For our patients with diabetes, choosing the right shoes is especially important. Diabetes can lead to numerous foot complications that can send a patient to the hospital, or even make amputation a necessity. One of the most common conditions that those with diabetes deal with is peripheral neuropathy. This is a type of nerve damage that can cause tingling, burning, and numbness in the toes and feet. It can also dampen feeling for wetness, cold, and injuries, which creates a high-risk situation for diabetic patients whose feet already have the potential to heal slowly. It is imperative that patients with diabetes – and especially those dealing with peripheral neuropathy – choose the right shoes to prevent any further complications or discomfort.

For people who have good foot health, including all sensation in their feet and control over their blood glucose, it might not seem necessary to purchase special shoes. However, for our patients who have significant nerve damage or are prone to dangerous ulcers, it is important to shop for shoes made custom to your condition. These shoes made specifically for diabetic patients dealing with peripheral neuropathy:

• Provide extra cushioning and support
• Include a wider toe box to avoid aggravating any present issues like bunions or hammertoes
• Are made with flexible materials
• Can be used in tandem with custom orthotics
• Have more shock absorption than regular shoes

A solid pair of supportive shoes can really make the difference between walking around comfortably and ending up needing an amputation from a complication. Shoes that rub or slip could cause a blister that could eventually turn into a dangerous ulcer. For someone with diabetes, an ulcer on the foot spells trouble with a capital T. For patients with peripheral neuropathy, it is necessary to be on top of foot care and regular podiatric checkups to maintain foot health.

Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help you make decisions on what shoes you should wear. If you have diabetes, it’s important that you maintain a good relationship with your podiatrist. We feature innovative treatments and state-of-the-art technologies at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at (860) 632-5499.

Patients with diabetes are often at a higher risk for foot complications due to loss of feeling from nerve damage. When someone with diabetes gets a cut or blister on their foot, an ulcer can form which can often lead to infection. If that foot infection is left untreated, amputation might be the next step. Amputation is actually the number one reason for hospitalization for people with diabetes – even more common than high blood glucose episodes and circulatory ailments.

Proper foot care is key to avoiding amputation for patients with diabetes. Here are some great ways to reduce your risk:

Inspect your feet daily. Incorporate a daily foot check into your routine. Check for cuts, punctures, or bruises – especially on the soles of your feet. Don’t forget between your toes!

Wear the right stuff. Make sure your shoes fit right. Prescription shoes and orthotics are often made for patients with diabetes. Always keep your socks clean and dry. If you’re able to, switch to a fresh pair in the middle of the day. Never walk around barefoot.

Trim your nails right. Cut your toenails straight across to avoid painful, troublesome ingrown toenails.

Eat right. Follow your doctor’s prescribed regimen to keep your blood glucose low.

Quit smoking. Smoking reduces your blood circulation. This can make any nerve issues you already have even worse. Your doctor can give you great tips for quitting.

Regular podiatry appointments are a great proactive way to reduce diabetic foot complications. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help treat wounds or ulcers, recommend proper footwear, assess nerve damage, or discuss more tips to reduce the risk of amputation. If you’re a patient with diabetes looking for a professional friendly foot doctor, give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., has many years of experience with foot ulcers at the Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT. Please call our offices at (860) 632-5499 or visit the Patient Education section of our website to find out more about this condition.

Foot ulcers are linked to those who have diabetes. Yet they can also occur in anyone and present themselves as patches of broken-down skin on the feet. Patients with diabetes are prone to this condition because their blood sugar gets too high or swings from one extreme to the other and the normal healing process is hindered due to nerve damage. This is due to high blood glucose levels making it more difficult for the body to fight off infections caused by ulcers in the foot. This can get dangerous since the nerves that would normally send a pain signal from the feet to the brain can get damaged and result in not knowing that an ulcer is growing worse. Diabetic foot ulcers can develop from cuts, wounds or bruises. In addition to nerve damage, another cause of reduced healing stems from arteries that have been blocked, thus preventing the pain signals from a foot ulcer from stimulating a response.

Patients with diabetes who smoke, don’t get enough exercise or have high blood pressure can be at an increased risk of developing foot ulcers. It’s very important for those with diabetes to treat foot ulcers at the very early stages since they can lead to amputation. They should avoid walking on an advanced ulcer to prevent the infection from being pressed deeper into their feet. A brace or cast can help to protect feet in these situations.

It is also important to follow recovery suggestions as scars underneath the healing ulcer can still simply break down. It is therefore recommended that those recovering from a foot ulcer wear special shoes to protect the wound area. Please contact our office today to make sure that your foot ulcer is taken care of before it becomes a source of severe pain or a dangerous infection.

Diabetic foot pain can seriously impact your daily routine, especially when dealing with wound care. In particular, diabetic foot ulcers usually occur on the bottom of feet and afflict diabetics. If left untreated, it can lead to infection and sometimes amputation. Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., can help to treat this condition and potentially prevent major surgery. You can visit Dr. Mucinskas at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT.    

Diabetic Foot Ulcers are openings in the skin of the foot that reveals the tissue underneath. There are different types that you should know about:

• Neuropathic ulcers cause numbness in the foot. Diabetes generally causes numbing in the foot, and minor cuts can turn into these ulcers.
• Ischemic ulcers result from a lack of blood flow and are difficult to heal due to the decreased blood flow.
• A combination of the above ulcers can result from the foot being numb and experiencing a lack of blood flow simultaneously.

There are several treatments that could help prevent amputation:

• Removal of the infected skin from the ulcer via surgical tools.
• Use of a surrounding safety material such as a removable boot that can decrease pressure around the ulcer. 
• The area around the wound where the Ulcer is treated can be covered with ointments or other special dressings.
• There may be other treatments to help increase blood flow around the ulcer location for those who have reduced blood flow.

For those experiencing chronic heel pain as a result of Plantar Fasciitis, PinPointe Foot Laser Therapy can be used treat it. This treatment is non-surgical, uses non-focused waves and does not require any form of anesthetic.

As you can see, heel pain left undiagnosed can lead to severe foot injuries, especially for those who stand all day on their feet. If you are experiencing chronic heel pain, contact or make an appointment with our offices by calling as soon as possible. Take this opportunity to get the best option for treatment and recovery.