If you ask anyone who has diabetes, they will tell you how this disease puts you at risk of experiencing foot problems, including the risk of amputation if one doesn’t follow proper foot care guidelines. Poor circulation and nerve damage in the foot can cause the slightest of cuts to be a source of severe infection.

You may risk amputation if any of these factors hold true.

• Nerve damage – The damage to the nerves from peripheral artery disease makes it very difficult to detect an injury. If the infection doesn’t catch the eye, it can spread onto the bone.
• Poor blood circulation – A lack of blood supply to our feet enhances the risk of injury and reduces the body’s wound healing power. This can lead to fractures and may lead to amputation.
• Foot deformities – The foot deforms from its natural shape due to poor circulation and damage to the nerves without the patient even being aware. Loss of feeling in the toe can lead to foot deformities. A severe case may lead to amputation.

If you or your loved one experience any nerve damage or poor circulation from diabetes, you may want to consult a foot and ankle specialist for diagnosis and treatment. It is really important to try and sort out the problem early before it gets any worse.

Here at Joseph Stuto, DPM we have years of experience in treating a variety of foot and ankle conditions such as ankle sprains, athlete’s foot, bunions, corns, fungal infections, hammertoes, warts, foot deformities, and diabetic foot care. Dr. Stuto and his trained staff look forward to helping you diagnose the issue and provide a treatment plan. For more information, you can visit our website or schedule an appointment at our two convenient office locations in Brooklyn: (718) 567-1403 (Brooklyn), or (718) 624-7537 (Brooklyn Heights).