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Clark, NJ 07066

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Foot Notes

Posts for tag: diabetes

By Clark Podiatry Center
September 25, 2019
Category: fungal toenails
Tags: diabetes   Toenail Fungus   surgery   podiatrist  

Of the many conditions a person can have regarding their feet, one often ignored is toenail fungus. Maybe because it is such a basic problem that it is often considered normal. But having toenail fungus is certainly not a normal, or at least, a healthy condition as it can easily lead to athlete’s foot. So, what is toenail fungus and what does it look like?  Called onychomycosis, toenail fungus is a fungal infection of your toenails and nail bed. If it spreads to your toes, it becomes athlete’s foot or tinea pedis.

Symptoms of toenail fungus include:

  • Thickened nails – unusual thickness
  • Crumbly nails – toward the edges of the nails
  • Distorted shape – can grow to one side or the other
  • Bad smell – due to fungus
  • Dark color under the nail – from the buildup of the fungus

Causes of toenail fungus include:

  • Sweaty feet – moisture breeds fungus
  • Age – the older a person is, the more likely they are to have poor circulation and the buildup of fungus
  • Walking barefoot in public places – must wear sandals or flipflops to avoid infection
  • Sharing towels, socks and footwear – can spread disease
  • Diabetes – loss of sensation can help nurture fungus
  • Skin conditions like psoriasis – can contribute to fungus

If you have any of the above symptoms, you need to see your podiatrist who will test your feet for a fungus and treat appropriately. Some fungal infections are very stubborn and take time to be completely removed.

Treatments include:

  • Oral anti-fungal – such as Sporanox – can take 12 weeks to work
  • Anti-fungal nail polish or lacquer – applied to the nail. May have to be used for a year.
  • Anti-fungal nail cream – must be used on the nail and skin surrounding it
  • Oral anti-fungal – can be taken in pill form
  • Surgery – in the most severe cases, the entire nail may need to be removed and medication applied after

Need some more help and encouragement in caring for your feet or choosing the right shoes schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy. He can assess your feet to ensure that there are no issues making sure that you not only choose the right shoes, but also keep your feet healthy. Come see us at our Clark, New Jersey office today!

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By Clark Podiatry Center
September 18, 2019
Category: proper foot care
Tags: blisters   diabetes   toenails   Athlete's Foot   podiatrist  

One of the most common and taken for granted parts of the body is our feet. Maybe it’s because we use them every day without thinking that we just don’t always put a lot of emphasis on them. The truth of the matter, though, is that our feet are one of the most important parts of our body. Without them we’d be stationary, a condition not usually confronted by most people. It is because of their importance, realized or not that taking care of them is very important and should be of concern to everyone.

So how much importance do we put on them, and how do we make sure they are taken care of? Good questions. First, we need to ensure they are in good condition, and the best way to do this is to make an appointment with your podiatrist. Your podiatrist is trained to ensure that your feet are healthy and, if a condition arises, treated properly. While many of us believe we can do this ourselves, this is not always true or best for us.

Reasons to contact your podiatrist include:

  • Introductory appointment – if you haven’t seen your podiatrist, make an appointment now and have them diagnose your feet for any unknown issues
  • Regular visits – checkups can keep your feet in the best condition
  • Continued pain in your feet – pain is abnormal and an indicator there is a problem
  • Blisters on your feet – shows an infection or irregular wear may be associated with your footwear or part of a developing problem
  • Cracking or peeling of the skin on your feet – can be the sign of a fungus or athlete’s foot
  • Changes in the toenails – can be a sign of a fungal infection which can spread or develop into more serious complications
  • Diabetes – a very serious condition your podiatrist needs to know about
  • When home or over the counter treatments do not work – an obvious sign that more serious medical attention is needed

In any case, seeing your podiatrist is just good common sense. As we get older, we seem to get to know more and more doctors. Why not add your podiatrist to the mix and cover all the bases?

Need some more help and encouragement in caring for your feet or even choosing the right shoes? Schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy. He can assess your feet to ensure that there are no issues, making sure that you not only choose the right shoes but also keep your feet healthy. See us at our Clark, New Jersey office today!

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By Clark Podiatry Center
August 28, 2019
Tags: diabetes   foot   children   podiatrist  

If we stop and think about it, the human foot is quite an invention. Made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles, and numerous tendons, it is both complicated and simple. Complicated in design but simple in performance, it balances our body weight as we walk, stroll, run, or stand. Amazing if we think about it. Yet, how, many times do we take our feet for granted?

Our feet literally carry us as we go through our day. Is it any wonder that they get tired or sore or a bump or two suddenly appears from out of nowhere? If the rest of us worked that hard, wouldn’t we want to take a ‘time out’ and spoil ourselves awhile? Why not our feet?

Good thing there is a specific person trained to keep our feet healthy and working called a podiatrist. If you have a pain in the toe, sharp pain in the heel, your feet turn inward or have lost feeling in your toes due to diabetes; a podiatrist can help.

They are especially trained and ready to help your children as their feet go from newborn to toddler to a full-grown youngster. They are trained to recognize problems and what appears as a problem and make sure they don’t become more. Throughout all this, Clark Podiatry is ready to guide your children as they learn to stand, take their first steps, walk, and finally run.  

As a member of the New Jersey Children’s Foot Health Institute, we look at possible foot problems that may be passed down from family member to family member. If we can identify these early on, then it is possible we can help your child avoid problems that would otherwise show up down the road. If we can address these foot issues now, all the better.

If you or your child need help and encouragement in caring for your feet, schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy. He can assess your feet to ensure that there are no issues making sure that you not only choose the right shoes but also keep your feet healthy. See us at our Clark, New Jersey office today!

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By Clark Podiatry Center
August 07, 2019

There are many types of doctors a person can see, depending on what part of the body needs attention. For the heart it is a cardiologist, for the kidneys, it is a nephrologist, and for the skin, it’s a dermatologist. For your feet, though, it’s a podiatrist. But why see a podiatrist? Aren’t foot problems really minor and something you can handle yourself? Well, the answer is not quite so simple.

While some foot conditions can be treated at home, many can become very serious if they’re not treated appropriately and treated immediately. It is not uncommon for people to try to treat themselves, but it is also quite common for these treatments to really need professional care.

Some conditions that are best treated by a podiatrist and why include:

  • Corns and calluses – if not treated correctly can lead to blisters and infections
  • Bunions – usually are painful and indicative of more complicated factors. Also, it may require surgery
  • Hammertoe – can lead to other conditions and can also require surgery
  • Heel issues – will affect your gait if not properly diagnosed and lead to other issues, possibly with your back
  • Metatarsalgia – painful condition that is best diagnosed and treated by a professional
  • Athlete’s feet – can spread to hands and beyond and may require strong medicine prescribed by a doctor.
  • Plantar fasciitis – will likely require specific doctor prescribed medicine
  • Flat feet – can affect your gait and cause back issues. May require a custom orthotic
  • Severs disease – common in children, but not easily diagnosed unless by a trained professional
  • Neuromas – can feel like several other conditions. Only a podiatrist can properly diagnose
  • Diabetes – this is perhaps the most serious of conditions and if not cared for properly can lead to a series of very serious medical conditions and even amputation

In fact, just about any foot-related concern, a person can have needs to be looked at by a podiatrist. What may be a more complicated, but easily treated condition, can very easily be mistaken for something else? So why take the risk and especially regarding your children? With so much to do every day, why not leave the doctoring to the doctor? Take the time to let a professionally trained person handle foot related medical issues. It is, after all, why they went to school.

If you have any concerns about the health of your feet or just have questions, please make an appointment with us. Dr. Brandon A. Macy, who is associated with New Jersey Children's Foot Health Institute, will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments to get you back to being active. Call Clark Podiatry at (732) 382-3470.

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By Clark Podiatry Center
July 17, 2019
Category: Diabetic Foot Care

One of the most serious conditions a podiatrist has to contend with is diabetes. What is diabetes? Diabetes is a condition where your blood sugar or glucose levels are too high. Diabetes can cause nerve damage that in some cases, can lead to amputation. It is estimated that 100 million Americans suffer from diabetes.

Symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Unusual thirst – the need for fluid
  • Unusual hunger – the constant need for food
  • Frequent urination – use of bathroom more than usual
  • Unusual weight loss – unexplained
  • Exhaustion - tiredness
  • Moodiness - depression
  • Blurred vision – lack of focus
  • Sores - take a long time to heal

There are 3 types of diabetes. They are:

  • Type 1 diabetes – Requires the use of insulin. Insulin helps break down sugar to be used by the body as energy.  The body doesn’t produce insulin
  • Type 2 diabetes – lower amounts of insulin still produced by the body
  • Gestational diabetes – often developed during pregnancy

Risk factors for diabetes include:

  • Obesity – excessive weight
  • High cholesterol – Having low levels of good – LDL -cholesterol
  • Age – the older the person, the more likely you are to develop diabetes
  • Race – more often found in blacks, Hispanics, Asian and Native Americans
  • Genetics – can be passed from family members
  • High blood pressure – Above 140/90 can develop diabetes
  • Lack of exercise – sedentary lifestyle

Ways to treat diabetes include frequent inspections of your feet for cuts and bruises and infections, a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein and exercise. Diabetes can cause something called neuropathy or damaged nerves, which can lead to infection. Other complications can include blindness, loss of a limb, kidney damage, heart disease, skin irritations, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression.

The good news about diabetes is that it is a treatable condition if you catch it early and follow the doctor’s orders. If you believe you have, are developing diabetes, or have any other concerns about your feet, schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy. He can assess your feet to ensure that you keep your feet healthy. Visit us at our Clark, New Jersey office today!

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1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066

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