Podiatry Factoid Walking is the best exercise for your feet. It also contributes to your general health by improving circulation, contributing to weight control, and promoting all-around well being.

Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States; during the past decade alone, there has been an increase of 33% making the diabetic population currently at over 23.6 million people.  There are many complications associated with diabetes including kidney, heart, vision, circulatory and foot problems. The good news is that many of these potential problems can be minimized as a result of life style changes, medications, and other preventive care.

Because diabetes damages the nerve endings and blood vessels in the feet, patients are less likely to notice when their feet are injured. Even a minor foot injury can easily become ulcerated or develop a serious infection. With good diabetic foot care, patients can prevent most of these problems.

At Step Lively Foot & Ankle Centers in the Greater Columbus, Ohio area our board-certified, skilled, experienced podiatrists work with patients on education and prevention, diagnosis and treatment, fitting appropriate orthoses and braces and surgical reconstruction.

 

Our goal is to work with newly diagnosed patients to prevent more serious complications. We encourage our diabetic patients to come in regularly, enabling us to monitor and notice even small changes in foot structure that may signal major problems. This kind of care can prevent more serious problems from developing.

Diabetic nerve damage can decrease the patient’s ability to feel pain, heat and cold. Loss of feeling means patients may not even feel a foot injury. They might not notice a foot injury until the skin breaks down and becomes infected. Nerve damage can also lead to changes in the shape of the feet and toes. We are experts in performing leading-edge surgery to help relieve the pain of neuropathy. We also provide special therapeutic shoes rather than forcing deformed feet and toes into regular shoes.

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Calluses often occur on patients with diabetes and appear at areas of high pressure. Too much callus may lead to undetected ulcers, which may cause infections. We use therapeutic shoes and inserts as well as surgical reconstruction to treat problem areas. We also periodically trim calluses as a preventive treatment.

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Ulcers occur most often on the ball of the foot or on the bottom of the big toe. Ulcers on the sides of the foot are usually due to poorly fitting shoes. All ulcers, whether they hurt or not, should be seen by the podiatrists at Step Lively Foot & Ankle Centers. We are the wound care experts. Neglecting ulcers can result in infection, which can lead to loss of the limb.

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Poor circulation can make the foot less able to fight infection and heal. Patients can control some of the things that cause poor blood flow by not smoking, keeping their blood pressure, weight and cholesterol under control and keeping their feet warm by wearing properly fitting shoes and socks.

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Charcot (pronounced “sharko”) foot is a debilitating and limb-threatening condition characterized by multiple fractures and dislocations. Early signs of Charcot foot disease include foot or ankle swelling, redness and warmth. Sometimes this early stage can mimic diabetic infection, thrombophlebitis and gout. Timely diagnosis and treatment is essential and often helps prevent catastrophic complications.

 

Severe cases of Charcot foot deformity require surgery. Surgical intervention realigns the contours of the foot and can help patients avoid amputation. We utilize various kinds of internal and external fixation devices (known as “frames”) to temporarily or permanently maintain the foot or ankle in the appropriate alignment during the healing process. We also use internal fixation devices such as wires, plates, nails and screws to maintain proper position of the bones during healing.

Some internal fixation materials are removed after the bone heals. Others may be left in place, while some are made of materials that are absorbed by the body. The fact is, diabetic foot care requires ongoing assessment and treatment that we are best equipped to provide for your patients.

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Medicare Diabetic Shoe Program

Amputations, or partial amputations, of the feet and legs are growing at an alarming rate for diabetic patients; in fact, lower extremity amputations grew by 28% in just the past several years and is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in the United States. In order to explore ways to reduce the number of amputations in the diabetic populations a task force was created by officials from Medicare, the American Podiatric Medical Association and the American Diabetes Association. It has been determined that over half of these amputations could have been prevented by timely conservative foot care.

We at Step Lively Foot & Ankle Centers are authorized Medicare suppliers to evaluate, prescribe and dispense high quality shoes and 3 pairs of removable protective shoe inserts per calendar year.  Many diabetic patients qualify for this benefit and Medicare will pay 80% of the cost for the shoes and insoles and your supplemental insurance should pay the other 20%.

We encourage, honor and welcome your referrals. To schedule an appointment, call our Step Lively Foot & Ankle Center location nearest you or use our online Appointment Request Form.

Please visit our Patient Education Library to read more about diabetic foot care.

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