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Dr. Brandon Macy
Podiatrist - Clark, NJ
1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066

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Foot Notes

Posts for: November, 2019

By Clark Podiatry Center
November 25, 2019
Category: Diabetes issues

With the holidays approaching, delicious food, family traditions, and fun are all around the corner. For children with diabetes, this time can be exciting and overwhelming. For parents, it may require additional monitoring of blood sugar levels.  At Clark Podiatry Center, we want to help you and your family enjoy Thanksgiving while ensuring that your child remains healthy.

Here are a few tips for parents this Thanksgiving:

Know the menu

Whether you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner at home or visiting family members, know in advance what may be on your child’s plate. If you’re going to be guests at someone’s home, this may even give you enough time to mention your child’s nutritional needs. It’s much easier to ask in advance than to respond to surprises or disappointments.

Watch portion sizes

During Thanksgiving, many people feel that this is the time to fill plates and return for multiple helpings. While it’s OK to take a few extra bites of your family’s favorite recipe, people with diabetes must be very careful to eat in moderation. For children, this can be challenging. We encourage parents to keep an eye on portion sizes for their children, encouraging them to instead leave room for leftovers the next day.  

Check your phone

You, too, can use technology to monitor your child’s glucose levels. Download an app on your phone to document and monitor your child’s glucose levels throughout the day. Make the appropriate adjustments, and be sure to encourage your child that they can enjoy delicious food any day of the year.  There’s no need to make food decisions that can negatively impact their health.

If this is your first Thanksgiving with a child who has diabetes, you’re not alone. Schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center by calling 732-382-3470, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have about diabetes management. Dr. Brandon A. Macy is a board-certified podiatrist. New Jersey’s Children’s Foot Health Institute is also part of the Clark Podiatry Center. Visit us at our Clark, New Jersey office.

 

 

 

 


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By Clark Podiatry Center
November 19, 2019
Category: Diabetic Foot Care

The temperatures are dropping, and winter is on the way. In colder weather, it’s important to keep your feet and toes warm. For patients with diabetes, this requires a few safety measures to ensure that your feet are staying warm — and safe. Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that impacts patients who have diabetes. In short, peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage, and this damage impacts a patient’s ability to determine if something is too cold, too hot, sharp or dull.

If you have diabetes, keep these tips in mind as you’re keeping your feet warm:

Avoid direct heat

Electric blankets, hot baths, and space heaters may seem like the best option for a quick warm-up. For a patient with diabetes, however, these options are dangerous. Since a person with peripheral neuropathy may be unable to feel that something is too hot, they are at risk for serious burns on their feet. If you need to take a bath, have a family member test the water first. Use layers instead of an electric blanket. Always avoid direct heat on your feet.

Choose the right socks

Did you know that there are socks made specifically for people with diabetes? These socks provide warmth, and they also provide additional cushion to reduce the friction or pressure that can further irritate corns, calluses, bunions or blisters. Fungal infections are still lurking in the fall, so be sure to always wear clean, dry socks with your shoes.

Don’t walk barefoot

Although you’re nice and warm in your house, always wear at least a pair of socks. This provides another layer of warmth for your feet, as well as protection against the unknown.

Protect your feet during the cold weather. If you need additional suggestions or have questions about how to manage your neuropathy, schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center by calling 732-382-3470. Dr. Brandon A. Macy is a board-certified podiatrist. Don’t forget that New Jersey’s Children’s Foot Health Institute is a part of the Clark Podiatry Center, too. Visit us at our Clark, New Jersey office.


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By Clark Podiatry Center
November 11, 2019

Are you sitting at the office? How about in the locker room before the game?

Go ahead. Wiggle your toes and answer the questions below. At Clark Podiatry Center, we want to keep you walking — with support and comfort. When footwear no longer meets those requirements, you are at risk for corns, calluses, bunions, and blisters. If you can no longer wiggle your toes in your shoes, it’s time for a trip to the podiatrist and to the shoe store.

Are your toes rubbing against your shoes or socks?

Friction is not your friend when it comes to your shoes. With each step that you take, increased friction and pressure on your feet and toes can only lead to pain and discomfort. Some of the results include corns, calluses, bunions, or blisters. If you have diabetes and a condition known as neuropathy, this is even more dangerous and can further irritate cuts and bruises. Neuropathy is nerve damage; many times patients don’t feel that their shoes are too tight or that corns or wounds are becoming irritated.

Are you relieved to free your feet from your shoes?

Whether it’s for a specific event, or for your 9-to-5 commitments, you shouldn’t be counting down the hours until you can remove your shoes. Your feet should not hurt. If you’re in pain, it’s time to visit a podiatrist. You may need to rethink your footwear or there may be other conditions that are causing discomfort.
 

Do your shoes leave marks on your socks or skin?

Seeing is believing for this question. If you have marks on your skin, stop wearing those shoes immediately.

Are you concerned about leaving enough wiggle room in your shoes? Make an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center by calling 732-382-3470. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy, can provide guidance on next steps to help you walk without pain and discomfort. Don’t forget that New Jersey’s Children’s Foot Health Institute is a part of the Clark Podiatry Center. Visit us at our Clark, New Jersey office.


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By Clark Podiatry Center
November 04, 2019
Category: Diabetes issues

November is American Diabetes Month, and at Clark Podiatry Center we want to do everything we can to help patients decrease their risk for this disease which can severely impact the health of your feet. Conditions associated with diabetes include neuropathy and decreased circulation. This can result in diabetic ulcers and wounds that can be very difficult to heal, and may lead to infection and even amputation. Researchers have also found a correlation between diabetes and certain kinds of cancer, including breast, bladder, liver, pancreas, colon and uterus. Diabetes and cancer share certain risk factors—some of which you can change, and some you cannot. Know your risk and make lifestyle changes now that will decrease the likelihood of you getting diabetes or cancer in the future.

Risk Factors You Can’t Control

Age—your risk for both type 2 diabetes and cancer go up as you get older.

Gender—men have a slightly higher risk for diabetes than women, and more cases of cancer occur in men than women.

Race/Ethnicity—for type 2 diabetes, African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics/Latinos and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders are more at risk. African Americans and non-Hispanic whites have a greater likelihood of developing cancer.

Risk Factors You Can Control

Weight—being overweight increases your risk for type 2 diabetes and also for some types of cancer.

Activity Level—being physically active and having a regular exercise regimen can reduce your risk for diabetes and also for certain types of cancer.

Smoking—being a smoker is a known risk factor for several types of cancer and studies also suggest that it increases your chances of developing diabetes. In addition, smoking is known to inhibit circulation—something that could already be a potential issue for patients with diabetes.

Alcohol Consumption—women who have more than one drink a day, and men who have more than two drinks a day, are shown to have a greater risk for both cancer and diabetes.

If you want to learn more about your risk for diabetes, make an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center  by calling 732-382-3470. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy will examine your feet be happy to discuss ways to be proactive in preventing diabetes. We are a proud to say that the New Jersey’s Children’s Foot Health Institute is a part of the Clark Podiatry Center. We look forward to serving you at our Clark, New Jersey office.


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Podiatrist - Clark, Dr. Brandon Macy, 1114 Raritan Road, Clark NJ, 07066 732-382-3470