Before we say goodbye to the month of June, there’s one more health observance that we at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center want to acknowledge: Men’s Health Month. A significant amount of research has been done about men and one disease that is of particular interest to us as foot health care providers, and that is diabetes. Although men and women may have similar symptoms and treatment, studies have shown that overall how men respond to diagnosis and care of the disease is very different and not in a good way.

The First Step: Admitting There’s a Problem

For many men, even after they realize that something is not right with their feet they put off making an appointment to have their symptoms evaluated. The reason for this is that they are afraid of getting bad news. If you are a man (or someone who loves one) and have noticed any of the following symptoms in the feet: cuts that are slow to heal, loss of sensation in one or more parts of the feet or a burning, tingling feeling, swelling or anything else out of the ordinary, it’s important that you make an appointment at our Long Beach office and allow one of our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley or Dr. Constance Omelas to examine your feet. Delaying seeking treatment will not make the symptoms go away and prompt treatment can greatly improve the outcome.

Get the Care You Need

Another significant research finding showed that in cases where men and women had equal access to health care for their diabetes, men were more likely to miss appointments and not get the treatment they needed. The good news about diabetes is that is highly controllable today. Many patients with diabetes continue to live full and active lives—if they keep their diabetes under control. The best ways to do this are:

• Schedule (and keep!) regular appointments with the podiatrist and other physicians managing your diabetic care.
• Follow dietary recommendations and medical treatments.
• Check your feet daily for changes that may indicate a problem.
• Wear shoes that fit properly and allow plenty of room in the toe box.
• Keep feet dry and avoid putting them in front of direct heat.

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we can take the fear and mystery out of diabetes if you let us. If you have concerns about your feet (or you believe a man in your life does) contact us by calling: (562) 420-9800.