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, November 7, 2007 – As
diabetes rates soar nationwide, foot and ankle specialists are seeing
more patients with a rare diabetic foot complication.
The condition, Charcot (pronounced SHAR-co) foot,
involves a sudden softening of the foot's bones that can trigger
an avalanche of problems, including joint loss, fractures, collapse
of the arch, massive deformity, ulcers, amputation, and even death,
according to foot and ankle surgeon Gerald Mauriello, Jr., D.P.M.,
M.A., of the Garden State Foot and Ankle Group and The Center for
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.
"As the foot's structure collapses, the bottom of
the foot can become convex, bulging like the hull of a ship," says
Dr. Mauriello, who is on staff at Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood
and Community Medical Center in Toms River. "But diabetes patients
frequently won't feel any pain because they have severe nerve damage
in their lower extremities."
Dr. Mauriello says every person with diabetes should
know the Charcot foot warning signs, which include a red, hot, swollen
foot or ankle. He cautions that several other dangerous conditions,
such as deep vein thrombosis and acute infections, share these symptoms,
and notes that a red, hot, swollen foot or ankle requires emergency
medical care.
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons estimates
less than 1 percent of people with diabetes develop Charcot foot.
But nationwide, the college's 6,000 members say they're noticing
more cases as more Americans develop diabetes.
"Charcot cannot be reversed, but its destructive
effects can be stopped if the condition is detected early, so people
with diabetes play a vital role in preventing this condition and
its complications," Dr. Mauriello says. "Patients with diabetes
should keep blood sugar levels under control, as this has been shown
to reduce the progression of nerve damage in the feet. People with
diabetes should also inspect both of their feet every day, and
get regular check-ups from a foot and ankle surgeon."
Dr. Mauriello is a member of the American College
of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and is a Fellow of The New York Academy
of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from The New York College
of Podiatric Medicine and completed his residency at Saint Vincent
Medical Center in New York City. He has lectured and published on
the topics of diabetic foot, Charcot foot and leg disorders.
At Kimball Medical Center, a Diabetes Education Program
designed for those with diabetes and those who need assistance with
meters, nutritional advice with meal planning, and fully understanding
the rationale and physiology of the disease is dedicated to helping
those with diabetes effectively manage their condition. The program
is a four-week series offered at Kimball's Center for Healthy Living,
located at 198 Prospect Street on the hospital's Lakewood campus.
A prescription or referral for diabetes education and nutritional
counseling is required.
Additionally, Kimball offers a free monthly diabetes
support group on the third Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 3:30
p.m. at the Center for Healthy Living. Both programs are made possible
by a grant from the Ocean County Office of Senior Services.
For a referral to a Kimball or Community Medical Center
foot and ankle surgeon, or to learn more about the Diabetes Education
Program at Kimball, call 1-888-724-7123.
CONTACT: Kathleen Horan
Public Relations and Marketing
732-557-3909
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