If you have diabetes, nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet. You may not feel a cut, a blister, or a sore. Serious cases may even lead to amputation. It may be harder for your foot to heal if you do get a sore or infection.
Check your feet every day…
You may have serious foot problems, but feel no pain. Check your feet for cuts, sores, red spots, swelling, and infected toenails. Find a time (evening is best) to check your feet each day. Make checking your feet part of your every day routine. If you have trouble bending over to see your feet, use a plastic mirror to help. You also can ask a family member to help.
Make sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, sore, blister, or bruise on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.
Randy M. Smargiassi, DPM joins the practice after a distinguished nine year career in the United States Navy. He has been assigned to the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland and to the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland as Department Head, Chief of Podiatry Service. Dr. Smargiassi has been the Podiatry Consultant to The White House, U.S. Congress, and the Supreme Court. He has been appointed as Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA. He has held academic appointments at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, and the Uniformed Services University Medical School as Assistant Professor where he taught “Foot Care in the Hostile Environment”. During his career, he has been involved in every aspect of foot care from complex wounds, injuries, and fractures to primary foot care and diabetic education. His diverse experiences allow Dr. Smargiassi to have a keen understanding of patients’ needs and the importance of returning to their desired lifestyle.
