Doctors John
Fawcett, PPMA President, and
Kevin Naugle, PPMA
President-Elect, see first-hand
the often devastating
complications diabetes presents
on the feet, and are not
surprised that nearly 60 percent
of non-traumatic, lower-limb
amputations in the United States
occur among people with
diabetes. “The three major
effects that diabetes have on
the feet are decreased
circulation, loss of sensation,
and immune system deficiency,
making the ability to heal and
fight off infection very
difficult,” says Dr. Naugle, an
associate with Berks Foot &
Ankle Surgical Associates in
Shillington, PA.
Both podiatrists Fawcett and
Naugle can’t stress enough the
importance for diabetics to
remember to “Elect to Save Your
Feet!” The Pennsylvania
Podiatric Medical Association
(PPMA), an affiliate of the
American Podiatric Medical
Association (APMA), is joining
its parent association in this
national campaign titled “Elect
to Save Your Feet.” This
campaign, run during Diabetes
Awareness Month every November,
aims to educate the public about
the importance of seeing a
podiatrist regularly to prevent
diabetic, lower-limb
amputations.
“Being vigilant
in your personal foot care, and
including your podiatrist in
your diabetes management team,
can save both your limbs and
your life,” says Dr. Fawcett, a
solo practitioner in Drexel
Hill, PA. Dr. Fawcett was able
to save his 50-year-old male
diabetic patient diagnosed with
a severely infected bone in his
foot (known as “Charcot’s
Foot”). The treatment consisted
of intervals of wound drainage
and prolonged antibiotics. If
this patient hadn’t gotten the
expert foot care from a
podiatrist, the outcome could
have gone in the opposite
direction.
Sad but true; every 30
seconds, a lower-limb is lost to
diabetes somewhere in the world.
Those with diabetes are more
prone to develop foot
infections, called foot ulcers,
which can quickly result in
amputation. Preventing
amputation means knowing all of
the main warning signs. Other
common diabetes warning signs in
the feet besides ulcers include: |
In Dr. Naugle’s
case, it was a female diabetic
patient in her early forties who
came to his office four days
after she noticed acute drainage
on her open foot wound. She was
diagnosed with a severe
infection and tested positive
for MRSA sepsis. Dr. Naugle’s
immediate and aggressive lavage
and debridement led to limb
salvage and preservation of her
ankle. He also was able to use
the latest in wound healing
technology, such as the Wound
VAC® to minimize the wound.
A great number of podiatric
physicians treat diabetics that
are in need of immediate wound
care. They are the link to
better foot health for
diabetics. Including a
podiatrist in your diabetes
management team – as well as
having a proactive attitude
about your foot care – can
drastically improve your chances
of managing diabetes
successfully.
If you discover any of these
symptoms mentioned, visit a
podiatric physician immediately.
A comprehensive foot care
treatment plan can reduce
amputation rates by 45 percent
to 85 percent.
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Dr.
Fawcett received his DPM degree
from the Ohio College of
Podiatric Medicine (OCPM),
Cleveland, Ohio, in 1973, also
doing his surgical residency at
the OCPM. He has served the
Delaware County Podiatry Society
(a division of PPMA) for 15
years in many different
capacities, including President
from 1996 – 1999. He is a Fellow
of the American Academy of
Podiatric Sports Medicine. Dr.
Fawcett lives in Brookhaven, PA,
with his wife Peggy. He’s been a
member of PPMA since 1986. |
