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Approximately 5.9% of the U.S. population has diabetes, and about 65% of these people will also develop neuropathy—nervous system damage that can cause people with diabetes to lose feeling in their hands or feet. This condition is just one reason why Louise E. Tortora, DPM, an ankle and foot care doctor in Fairfield, CT, educates her patients on the importance of diabetic foot care.

If you have diabetes, here are a few reasons why you should have a diabetic foot care exam performed regularly:

  • Slow Healing Time: Not only are diabetics less likely to feel wounds because of neuropathy, they also tend to have slow healing times due to peripheral artery disease, which decreases the blood flow to the feet and other parts of the body. Due to this combination, people with diabetes are strongly urged to closely monitor their feet every day for any signs of wounds of any size. The slow healing time can put them at risk of infection, especially if they are not able to feel it when it occurs.diabetic-foot-care-fairfield-ct
  • Deformities: Neuropathy also increases a diabetic person’s chances of developing a deformed foot (bunions or hammer toes). This can occur either from walking on numb feet or from open ulcers that evolve into a bone condition known as Charcot foot. This is a very serious foot condition that can lead to bone fractures and disintegration. Since a diabetic person may not feel the pain, they will continue to walk on it, worsening the foot’s condition.
  • Amputation: If ulcers or wounds are not caught and are allowed to progress to an infection, they could cause severe damage to the tissues and bone in the foot. These complications could warrant an amputation of the foot or the lower limb to keep the infection from spreading to the rest of the body.

Avoid these complications by practicing good diabetic foot care—schedule regular exams with a podiatrist. Call the podiatry office of Louise E. Tortora, DPM at (203) 254-0093 to schedule your appointment. You can learn more about foot care and how diabetes can impact your feet by visiting them online. Get more foot care tips by following them on Facebook.

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