When you have diabetes, you’ve got a lot to keep track of – like what you eat and how often you eat. You’ve got to monitor your blood sugar levels. If you’re on medication, you must remember to take it faithfully. So when life gets crazy, as it often does between work and family obligations, daily diabetic foot checks can easily take a back seat.

Because November is Diabetes Awareness Month, Montgomery County podiatrists Dr. Chanda L. Day-Houts and Dr. Heidi M. Christie want to take this opportunity to encourage our diabetic patients. Don’t let life get in the way of proper foot care. The stakes are simply too high. It’s not an exaggeration to say that a foot problem you ignore could cause you to lose a toe, foot, or leg.

So check your feet daily. Contact us as soon as you notice any of the following problems with your feet:

• Numbness – a sign of nerve damage.
• Cracks in the skin. These may be slow to heal due to poor circulation.
• Skin lesions such as calluses, corns, or warts. Never try to shave off a callus yourself or use over-the-counter chemicals to remove a wart. Home treatments such as these open the door to dangerous infections.
• Bunions and hammertoes rub up against your shoes, causing irritation, redness, blisters, and calluses. Any of these can quickly develop into ulcers that won’t heal. Our podiatrists can offer diabetic shoes, orthotic inserts, or surgery to correct these kinds of toe deformities.
• Changes in shape, redness, and swelling are signs of a serious disease called Charcot foot. Nerve damage (neuropathy) can cause bones to become weak and misaligned, literally changing the shape of your foot.
• A fungal nail infection or ingrown toenail.

Prevent foot problems by wearing shoes that fit well, keeping your skin supple with thick moisturizing cream, and monitoring your feet continually. As soon as you detect a problem, call Montgomery Foot Care Specialists in Montgomery, Alabama at (334) 396-3668 or make an appointment online.