(410) 721-4505
2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 25
Crofton, MD 21114
As part of American diabetes month, we wanted to share with you how it can affect your feet. High blood sugar levels caused by diabetes can damage your nerves, leading to neuropathy. This direct problem can lead to complications from even the smallest injuries or conditions.
It starts with neuropathy.
When diabetes is not properly controlled, your nerves are at risk for damage. In particular, the legs and feet begin to tingle, burn, and/or lose feeling completely. Treatments can be used to slow down progression and relieve symptoms, but once it has begun its course, diabetic patients become more at risk for foot complications because of neuropathy, including:
Remember to check and wash your feet daily, being careful not to burn your feet in hot water. This is an important part of taking care of diabetic feet. If you notice problems with your diabetic feet, consult with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll at Crofton Podiatry before complications worsen. Make an appointment by calling (410) 721-4505 to receive a thorough assessment. Our team is ready to assist you at our Crofton, MD office, which also serves the surrounding Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie areas.
Falling leaves can be quite a beautiful sight in the autumn. The bright, sometimes fiery colors seem like a nice reminder of the changing season. Unfortunately, it also means that those leaves are falling and covering our yards and streets. Not only does it make it a bit messy and unsightly, but it can also be slippery and a site for critters to hide in.
This means that we have to roll up our sleeves, get out the rake, and get to tidying up our yards, walkways, and driveways. While not the most dangerous activity, there are a few risks of injury. The following are some tips for staying injury-free while raking leaves:
Got the right boots, but need more support? You may benefit from custom orthotics. Consult with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll at Crofton Podiatry. Make an appointment by calling (410) 721-4505 to receive a thorough assessment. Our team is ready to assist you at our Crofton, MD office, which also serves the surrounding Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie areas.
After a diagnosis of diabetes, you may begin to worry about how you’re going to handle your body’s changes. Since blood sugar levels can spike or drop unexpectedly, it’s important to focus on some of the following key changes in your lifestyle.
Additionally, here are some tips for taking care of diabetic feet. Be sure to check your feet each day for any new signs of injury. If you are unsure about caring for diabetic feet, consult with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll at Crofton Podiatry. Make an appointment by calling (410) 721-4505 to receive a thorough assessment. Our team is ready to assist you at our Crofton, MD office, which also serves the surrounding Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas.
Those with diabetes know the effects it can have on your body and lifestyle once symptoms begin. Meals, exercise, rest and blood glucose monitoring must all be planned out, and the smallest change can lead to symptoms of high or low blood sugar, such as nausea, dizziness, confusion (for high blood sugar), and headache, weakness, shaking, and sweating (for low blood sugar).
Diabetes is not a rare disorder. The most recent data suggest that just under 30 million US adults have diabetes and about 1 of 4 do not know they have it. The exact causes of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are unknown, but it seems that genetics and environmental factors seem linked. If you have risk factors of diabetes, it’s helpful to get checked and begin to make changes to prevent progression to Type 2 diabetes.
In the general public, not much is known about how insulin plays a role in blood sugar and diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. In Type 1, the pancreas doesn’t make insulin anymore, whereas in Type 2, your body does not use insulin properly. With the high rate of prevalence in US adults, it’s important to become more aware and educated about the disease.
The following are signs of diabetes:
How does diabetes affect the feet?
High blood sugar levels can cause damage to nerves and blood vessels, particularly in the feet. It can lead to diabetic peripheral neuropathy where the feet and legs lose sensation, have decreased blood flow and poor circulation. It can make it harder for you to notice if you have an injury or infection and healing can be very slow. Review these tips for taking care of diabetic feet.
What can you do to lower your risk?
For Type 1, risk factors include: genetics, environment, diet (e.g. low vitamin D). For Type 2, risk factors include: being overweight, inactivity, family history, race, age (older than 45), high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. For Type 1 diabetes symptoms tend to occur quickly, whereas for Type 2, you can mitigate effects by making changes:
2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 25
Crofton, MD 21114