Are you having a hard time falling asleep at night because of a burning sensation? Would you describe it as “pins and needles” in your feet?  If you said yes, then you may be experiencing neuropathy, a condition brought on by diabetes. Neuropathy is caused by nerve damage and is often a common condition people with diabetes face.  It decreases feeling in the feet, limits circulation and often causes the sensation of burning feet which is usually experienced at nighttime.

Unfortunately, neuropathy isn’t an easy cure type condition, which is why it is very important to visit your podiatrist as soon as you experience symptoms in order to prevent it from worsening. Fortunately, Dr. Harvey Danciger can assess your condition and provide the best treatment available to alleviate your discomfort.

The most effective treatments for neuropathy include:

• Controlling your blood sugar levels. Diabetes management is a lifestyle that can be attained through a healthy diet and enough exercise.  This can help keep your sugar levels in check, which will help tremendously for treating effects of painful neuropathy. Work with your medical care provider to develop a diabetes health plan to ensure your specific diabetes needs are met to work toward blood sugar control and management.
• Medication. If symptoms of neuropathy continue to be of discomfort, even with controlled blood sugar levels, pain medication can be prescribed to alleviate your discomfort. Certain creams made from chili peppers can be used and applied on the foot to desensitize them as well.
• Improve your circulation. Making sure enough blood flow is supplied to your feet can help prevent nerve damage symptoms from occurring. Exercise as simple as walking and massaging your feet can make a big difference to improve your foot circulation. Be sure to have a proper fit of shoe and sock to prevent decreased blood flow and other foot complications.

Don’t lose sleep over burning feet any longer. Contact our office right away to set up an appointment with Dr. Danciger to ensure your feet are properly taken care of in order to alleviate your discomfort.

Do you suffer from dry or cracked feet? Are you constantly trying to improve blood circulation in your feet? Well we have a solution for you!  The Blue Ridge Soap Shed has created a foot soap that is designed to meet the needs of these very common diabetic foot occurrences.

Diabetes decreases circulation to the foot, which can cause skin to dry out and possible nerve damage to occur. It’s critical for people with diabetes to pay attention to their feet to ensure dryness, cracking or nerve damage doesn’t manifest into infection or even toe and foot amputation. By washing your feet thoroughly on a daily basis using the Blue Ridge Soap Shed diabetic foot soap, you can prevent foot complications from occurring due to combined ingredients in the soap bar. They include:

·         Shea and cocoa butter to set a moisturizing base.

·         Tea tree essential oil, which includes natural infection-fighting properties.

·         Ginger essential oil, which is known to stimulate circulation.

Visit www.soapshed.com if you’re interested in purchasing diabetic foot soap.   Although washing your feet with this foot soap can help fight against dryness or possible infection, it is important to include other diabetic foot care tips into your health regimen to ensure your feet stay fit and healthy.

Dr. Harvey Danciger recommends the following tips to incorporate into your routine.  They include:

·         Check both of your feet on a daily basis. Take the time to look over your feet and in between all your toes. It is common for blisters and infections to develop in between your toes and diabetic neuropathy can eliminate feeling, which won’t allow you to notice them until they become irritated or infected.

·         Wear a proper fitted shoe. Shoes that create friction, or are too tight, can cause blisters which turn into sores and possible infection. Investing in a good pair of shoes that fit the shape of your foot are worth buying.

·         Never go barefoot. Exposing your bare feet increases the risk for infection to occur in any foot cut or crack you may have. Wear socks or shoes that provide enough support to cushion your feet and any possible calluses or sore spots.

·         Contact our office! Nerve damage in diabetic feet can be unpredictable. It’s important to tell your podiatrist about any changes or feelings you are noticing in your feet or toes. Speak up if you are experiencing pain, numbness, or a tingling feeling in your feet.

Let us help you maintain your foot health! Contact our office today at (760) 568-0108 to set up an appointment with Dr. Danciger!

Being diagnosed with diabetes as a child is devastating in most cases. It's a disease that requires its victims to be ever-aware to the needs of their body. Recent studies have found that along with being emotionally and physically devastated, children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are also more likely to achieve less in school and struggle financially going into adulthood.

Researchers from Yale University studied 15,000 kids (age groups between middle school and high school) with type 1 diabetes for a period of 14 years. The results from the study were very interesting and disturbing:

• The dropout rate for high school students with type 1 diabetes was 6% higher than the dropout rate for kids without diabetes.
• Adults with type 1 diabetes were 10% more likely to be unemployed by age 30.
• The patients who were employed made an average of $6,000 less than their peers without diabetes.

These facts are worrisome, but there may be a way for helping children with diabetes handle their illness in a more positive way. Sam Fuld, the Tampa Bay's outfielder, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 10. He says that having someone to talk to about the disease who knows what it's like can be a great way to feel normal.

Fuld felt there was a need for a camp specifically for kids with type 1 diabetes which is why this summer at the University of South Florida, he's holding a sports camp for children in the area with type 1 diabetes. It's a great opportunity for kids to receive more education about their disease and to connect with children their age who are experiencing the same things.

"I got the message early on that (diabetes) is not a hindrance, as long as you stay on top of it and are conscientious with it," Fuld said.

Dealing with diabetes is something our country will have to get used to in the years to come. The number of children at risk for developing type 2 diabetes will continue to climb until healthy  lifestyles  becomes a priority in our country. Being educated on insulin and blood sugar levels will help the next generation be more aware of the consequences of unhealthy living.

Dr. Dancigerdeals with patients with type 2 diabetes on a regular basis. Foot complicationsare some of the more common side effects of diabetes.