Podiatry Don’ts with Diabetes

If you have diabetes, we hope that you have added a podiatrist to your care team. Diabetes can have a significant impact on your feet or ankles — if you aren’t proactive. At the PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center, our doctors empower patients to take control of their health by taking the right steps at home. Our top don’ts for this condition:

Don’t ignore wounds.

Watching wounds is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of developing an infection or having additional complications. To ignore a wound is to miss out on an opportunity to protect your feet. It is common to have slow-healing wounds or non-healing wounds because of poor circulation. If you see a wound, lessen your worry by contacting a member of your care team: a podiatrist.

Don’t walk barefoot.

Did you know that neuropathy is a common condition that affects patients with diabetes? Neuropathy is a form of nerve damage, and it limits a person’s ability to detect if they’ve injured themselves. Walking barefoot increases your risk for a cut or a bruise.

Don’t skip blood sugar checks.

High blood sugar is a concern for podiatrists. Create a schedule for your blood sugar checks and contact your primary care physician if your levels are inconsistent, too high, or too low. If you’re new to diabetes, the journey can be a little frustrating. Invite doctors and other members of your care team to help with healthy meals, exercise opportunities, etc.

Our board-certified team of foot and ankle doctors at PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center has experience with addressing pediatric foot needs. The team includes Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, and Dr. Laura Vander Poel. We have two locations in Hartford County: 1379 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT, and 1350 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, CT. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.