AF&A Blog

As diabetes awareness month comes to a close, let’s spend some time talking about wounds. Earlier in the month we talked about the determination it takes to properly heal wounds complicated by diabetes. Because of complicating factors, this is definitely an area where ‘an ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure’.

By examining your feet daily for changes in color, texture, and temperature, you can detect problems early and seek appropriate intervention. There is actually a lot of ongoing research within the podiatry field to assess or predict wounds before they occur. This research attempts identifying ‘hot spots’ or areas under increased stress, so that your podiatrist can put you in specialized footwear or inserts to stop the problem before it occurs.

Examining your feet daily is doubly important if you have any neuropathy of sensation loses. When you lose the ability to feel pain, a small cut or splinter can go unnoticed and quickly lead to infection. Infections that are undetected can easily invade the muscle and bones. If the infection becomes septic, or reaches your blood, you may experience nausea, fever, chills or vomiting for which you must go immediately to the hospital. The sooner you see a podiatrist or make a trip to an appropriate medical facility the quicker steps can be taken to limit the damage and put you on the path to recovery. Delays in treatment, especially when infection is involved, can result in surgery and amputations.

We would encourage everyone who has diabetes or is close to someone who has it to join the American Diabetes Association. The ADA offers plenty of resources and helpful advice. One such recommendation is yearly foot check-ups with a podiatric physician. Regular healthcare can help you avoid many of the complications we’ve mentioned. We at AFAS are calling all to action by continuing to learn about and be aware of diabetes.

Stay tuned next month as we discuss holiday travels and some the things you should keep in mind. Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy, Austin!

While most holidays involve some component of gathering with others for a meal, Thanksgiving, by far, focuses the most on eating. This holiday typically conjures up images of feeling stuffed, ‘turkey coma’, or post meal naps. Unfortunately, this type of gorging isn’t healthy for anyone. Living with diabetes should mean that you focus on what you eat. Your body’s inability to keep the sugars in your blood at the appropriate levels translates into you changing the when you eat, what you eat, and the level of activity you get.

It may be helpful to think of diet as all the good things you can eat and not the limiting of other not so good things you may be used to eating. If you have any input into the types of foods you’ll be eating this holiday, visit the American Diabetes Association website. This is an excellent organization to be a part of if you live with diabetes. They offer a plethora of resources and ideas for living better while managing your sugars. For the holiday season, they offer such ideas as mashed sweet potatoes, sage stuffing, and pumpkin pie with maple ginger crust to help you have an enjoyable meal without sacrificing your blood sugars and ultimately your health. If you have the luxury of letting someone else prepare your meal, you should use a little caution in what and how much you eat. Standard fair like turkey and yams can actually be ok as long as you don’t stuff yourself. Sweet rolls are one of the foods you should limit or remove altogether as simple breads are one of those foods that can quickly elevate your blood sugars. You should take full advantage of the many resources to help guide your choices at meals this Thanksgiving.

While we talked last time about ‘hidden’ exercise, you should consider taking an easy walk after your meal instead of that nap.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy, Austin!

The President mentioned the costs associated with it long before the healthcare bill was passed. For anyone living with diabetes or struggling with ulcerations that won’t heal, it is a scary thought. Amputation is the last resort option to save an individual’s life, but at a cost that can only be understood by someone who has experienced it. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) diabetic complications are the main cause for amputations of the leg not due to trauma.

Earlier this summer members of the American Podiatric Medical Association gathered for their yearly seminar to teach, learn, and share knowledge with one another. One of the studies that were presented at that meeting dealt with the issue of amputation. The researchers examined 32,000 patients with diabetes and compared their risk factors to their ultimate outcomes. Their findings were that diabetic patients who visited a podiatrist had a significantly lower number of amputations than those who did not. If you are already a patient at AFAS, you should receive a yearly letter to remind you to schedule your annual diabetic foot exam.

We try to take our weekly blog space to educate you on keeping in good health and preventing problems with your feet. Inspecting your feet for changes and maintaining your blood glucose within the recommended ranges are your daily priority if you have diabetes. Living with diabetes can mean changing habits you may have had your whole life, but anything you can do to live healthier can add years to your life. Regular visits with Dr. Thomajan can detect problems early. By assessing where an ulcer might occur, proper off loading and changes to your shoes can stop the issue before it even happens. Don’t become an NIH statistic and make sure a podiatrist is involved in your healthcare.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy Austin!

While not a local story, we’re sure you have heard about the man who had his toe bitten off. No, it is not a story that has been passed around the campfire, but rather a Michigan man’s experience earlier this month. The headline “Dog eats Rockford man’s big toe, saves his life” is pretty odd but not entirely out of place in the Midwest. If you take the time to read the article, you’ll see that an Illinois woman had the same thing happen to her only 2 years ago!

But what does all this have to do with the AFAS blog? Well, it gives us a perfect opportunity to talk about diabetes and the associated complications. The man from Michigan was delaying getting checked for fear he might have diabetes. By delaying the diagnosis, the nerves of his feet became so damaged that a small injury to his toe became infected and spread into the bone. This type of infection, osteomyelitis, can spread quickly becoming life threatening.

Diabetes is complicated disease, but you will stay healthier longer by managing your sugars and regular visits with your healthcare team. Simple injuries to your feet can progress quickly if you don’t maintain vigilance. Wearing protective footwear, even while at home, is a good way to protect your feet. Another important step to take is to have your yearly diabetic foot exam. Don’t wait for your family pet to try and help, rather opt for a quick visit to AFAS. Dr. Thomajan can do a lot to keep you on your feet and avoid complications. Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy Austin!

If you’re a frequent visitor to our website, you may have noticed a free book offer link in the left had margins. We here at AF&A are always trying to improve the health and well being of our patients. Keeping the old adage ‘an ounce of prevent is worth a pound of cure’, we do our very best to educate you about proper foot care and ways to avoid injury. We hope that information provided in the books by Dr. Thomajan will help you to be pro-active in your own health.

Running is a fun and easy activity that requires little equipment. Whether enjoying the occasional jog or are thinking about starting exercise program, you should always take care to avoid injury. Dr. Thomajan’s book talks about some common injuries and precautions you can take to Keep Running.

Diabetes affects your whole body. Your feet, unfortunately, take the brunt of increased weight and vascular problems that often occur during the course of this chronic disease. Anyone who is living with diabetes needs to be extremely diligent and pro-active in their foot health. A good place to start is requesting Dr. Thomajan’s book.

Visit the AFAS homepage and click on the icon. You will be directed to a form to fill out after clicking the link. After choosing one of the two books and entering the remainder of the information sit back and wait for your book to arrive by mail. Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy Austin!

It is almost here!  The preparations and general business are about to culminate in the few days we spend with family and friends for the holiday.  If you have been working hard to keep your diabetes in check, this time may prevent a few extra challenges to keep your blood sugars at the proper levels.  You don’t have to completely skip the fried turkey, jalapeño cornbread, or pecan pie.  Enjoy the holiday foods you like, just be sure to consume it in moderation and to check your blood sugars a little more frequently than usual.  As mentioned before, the American Diabetes Association is full of great information.  A few tips to navigate the holiday can be found at their website.

Once the hustle and bustle of the holidays fades away the management of your diabetes and blood sugars shouldn’t.  As you all know, there are many aspects to living with this condition and your podiatrist is an important part of your healthcare team.  Dr. Thomajan and the staff here at Austin Foot & Ankle Specialists want to remind you to make an appointment and come in for a foot assessment.  New ADA “2010 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes” recommend that anyone living with diabetes visit their podiatrist for a yearly assessment.  Keep an eye on your mailbox for more information about this in the next few weeks. 

Have a happy holiday and enjoy the season!

While many of you have done most of your Christmas present shopping, the procrastinators among us may still be waiting for those last minute deals. It is during this busy time of year that we may overlook the things important to our health while we hustle and bustle about. All of the additional tasks around the holiday mean we are on our feet a little more than usual and it is important to give them the proper rest and care. If someone on your gift list is living with diabetes, here are a few easy gift ideas that will go a long way in helping them manage their condition:

ADA membership – The American Diabetes Association website is full of helpful information about living with diabetes. The association works with research in prevention or management in order to provide credible information and help deliver services to people living with this disease. A yearly membership provides the individual with a monthly copy of the organizations magazine and links them to a network of thousands of individuals living with the same issues they face every day. As there are many facets and challenges to living with diabetes, this gift can go a long way.

Slippers – Neuropathy, or loss of feeling sensation, often becomes a problem for diabetics. While the lack of pain may sound better than the alternative, the inability to feel injuries can cause many more health issues. Slippers are something every diabetic should wear around the house to avoid these problems. A comfortable, solid slipper will help protect the feet and prevent trauma.

These are just a couple quick and easy ideas that will help your loved one though out the year. Remember to take care of those feet and have a happy holiday season!

While we all may not be professional athletes, those individuals need to take special care of their feet….and you do too! No matter how you stay physically active, whether it is golfing, running, or a daily walk, remember to keep you feet happy and healthy. Some basics to keep in mind, such as using the proper shoe for your activity, knowing your limits, and keeping your feet dry are all helpful in avoiding problems. However, here are a few common problems that may arise, some things you can do to prevent these things from affecting your daily activities, and when to visit your doctor.

1. “Athlete’s Feet” – is the something we have all been wary of when using the shower at the gym, but can affect anyone anywhere. The fungi and its friends that cause this uncomfortable condition are part of the world around us and can be acquired almost anywhere. By making sure you dry your feet thoroughly, before slipping on cotton socks, as well as keeping your shoes dry, are all first line defense to keep this problem from afflicting you. There are plenty of treatments available to fight this problem and it is important to see your podiatrist to prevent spread of an infection, especially when living with diabetes.

2. Heel Pain – there are a number of reasons this may become a problem for you. Surely, you find that by resting the area the pain subsides. Unfortunately, most of us are required to be on our feet through the day and this pain can come back time and time again becoming a real problem. A variety of inserts for your shoes and other non-invasive methods can be implemented by your podiatrist to help you function without pain. If the problem is due to foot structure or anatomical issue, the doctor can also discuss the appropriate options for this correction as well.

3. “Shin Splints”- are something many of us have experienced before. Often associated with overuse or a change in activity intensity, they are often relieved by rest. A modification of the offending activity will often prevent reoccurrence. A change in foot wear or the implementation of an orthoses many help to correct the problem. If the problem persists, you should make an appointment with your podiatrist who can make sure it is not a more serious problem and assist in finding solutions.

As we all prepare for the holiday season, our schedules begin to change and we may be spending a lot more time walking around. Just like an athlete in competition we may be asking more of our feet than we usually do. Assure yourself a happy and health holiday paying proper attention your soles and toes!