Diabetes and Foot Health: A Go-to Guide

It’s always important to maintain the health of your feet and ankles, but people who struggle with diabetes must pay even more attention than the average individual. Due to potential complications arising from high blood sugar, diabetes can inflict significant damage in a short amount of time.

Left unchecked, complications might lead to serious consequences like amputations. That’s why this blog post will offer some clear, simple advice on diabetic vigilance and management techniques courtesy of the expert team at Step by Step Family Foot Care.

Understanding the Risks of Diabetes

High blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can damage nerves and blood vessels, especially in the feet. This nerve damage can cause numbness, tingling, pain, or even a complete loss of feeling. Without the ability to feel your feet, it becomes difficult to detect potential problems like wounds or infections, which, when combined with poor blood circulation, can lead to gangrene, a serious condition that may necessitate amputation or surgery.

Early Detection is Key

Even minor cuts, blisters, or dry skin can evolve into serious foot problems for diabetics. Here’s a checklist of what to look out for:

  • Blisters
  • Cuts or scrapes
  • Ulcers (open sores)
  • Dry, cracked skin
  • Calluses
  • Coldness in the feet

Taking Steps Towards Healthy Feet

The good news is that there are proactive measures you can take to safeguard your foot health:

  • Manage your blood sugar levels: Maintaining good blood sugar control helps minimize nerve and blood vessel damage.
  • Daily foot inspections: Make it a habit to check your feet every day for any cuts, blisters, or changes in skin texture.
  • Podiatrist care: Schedule regular appointments with a podiatrist for professional foot care and maintenance.
  • Proper footwear: Wear well-fitting shoes with good support and clean socks that absorb moisture.
  • Never go barefoot: This increases your risk of cuts, scrapes, and punctures.
  • Consider orthotics: Custom orthotics can improve alignment and provide additional comfort and support for your feet.

At Step By Step Family Foot Care, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive podiatric services. If you have any concerns about your foot health, please contact our office at (973) 917-3785 or visit our website to schedule an appointment with Dr. Debra Manheim. Our friendly staff in Parsippany is here to help you keep your feet healthy and happy!

5 Quick Tips to Protect Your Kid’s Feet This Summer

Summer is in full effect. Kids everywhere are getting out to enjoy everything the nice weather has to offer. However, with all this extra activity, your children’s feet are vulnerable to several possible injuries, especially if they play sports. Let’s review some quick tips to ensure your kid’s feet stay happy and healthy during the summer months.

According to Johns Hopkins, “almost one-third of all injuries incurred in childhood are sports-related injuries.” Don’t worry, though. There are several things you can do to avoid sports injuries. Follow these summer foot tips:

  1. Buy the right shoes. Each sport usually has a specific shoe designed for that particular sport. Always ensure your child tries on the shoes first, making sure he has plenty of wiggle room in the front for his toes. Since children’s feet tend to grow fast, check often that their shoes haven’t become too tight. Also, it’s a good idea to buy new shoes every season.
  2. Check playing surfaces for any foot or ankle hazards. It doesn’t only include objects like rocks littering the playing field; even uneven surfaces can cause children to lose balance and suffer an ankle sprain or broken bone. Always alert coaches to any potential hazards.
  3. Make sure your children are warming up. It can ensure their tendons and muscles stretch properly to prevent stiffness. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Light cardio, jumping jacks, or just simple stretching are great ways to warm up before engaging in any sport.
  4. Put your child in a different sport each season. By encouraging your child to try different sports each season, you help prevent the overuse of some muscles. Engaging in the same activity for extended periods can increase the chances of injury and wear and tear on your child’s feet and ankles. It can lead to muscle fatigue, tears, and strains.
  5. If you suspect your child has suffered any injury, you should contact our office right away to assess and treat the problem as soon as possible. It will help prevent further problems from developing down the line.

If you have any issues with foot health and mobility, contact Step by Step Family Foot Care in Parsippany, New Jersey. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Debra B. Manheim, offers treatment for foot and ankle disorders, biomechanical analysis, and functional orthotic fabrication. For more information and answers to your questions and to schedule an appointmentcontact us at (973) 917-3785.

What to Do If You Have an Ingrown Toenail?

ingrown toenail

Ingrown toenails can be very painful and tend to worsen quickly if proper care is not taken. At Step by Step Family Foot Care, our board-certified podiatrist Dr. Debra B. Manheim has often witnessed that people do not take ingrown toenails seriously until they become excessively painful or are infected with pus.

Keep these practices in mind if you feel you are developing an ingrown toenail:

  • Wear open shoes or ones with a spacious toe box. Avoid tight footwear that crams the toes together and pushes the nails to bend down and grow inwards.
  • Examine your feet regularly for any signs like tenderness, redness, swelling, or pain. Consult your doctor immediately if you have any symptoms.
  • If your nail sides feel tender, massage your feet in warm water so that the skin can be pushed aside from the nail.
  • Cut your nails short and straight across to prevent skin from overlapping on the nail.
  • Do not file your nails round as that increases the likelihood of ingrown toenails.
  • Do not try to “fix it” by meddling with the affected areas using sharp and/or pointed objects. One small nick in the wrong place could start the onset of a very painful infection.
  • Seek professional help right away to avoid aggravating the condition and suffering in pain unnecessarily.

Delaying your visit to your podiatrist will only intensify the situation. In worst cases, the nail could become infected with pus or bacteria, which could require several treatments, like surgical procedures, laser treatment, and more. Visit our office in Parsippany, New Jersey, to have a thorough check-up and get treated for any prevailing foot conditions that you may be encountering. Feel free to browse through our patient education library and blog section on our website.