Welcome to the Website of Drs.

Michael Zapf, DPM, Darren Payne, DPM

Lorie Robinson, DPM and Steve Benson, DPM

Thank you for visiting the web site of Drs. Zapf, Payne, Robinson and Benson all practicing in two offices in the Conejo Valley. Our practice name is the Agoura-Los Robles Podiatry Centers. We have combined over 60 years of experience to better serve our patients. Dr. Michael Zapf is mostly responsible for hte content of this web site.. This site is intended for the patients of The Conejo- Los Robles Podiatry Centers. If you are not a patient, you are still welcome to visit the site and learn what you can about your problem. But the doctors cannot assume any responsibility for your care and cannot offer you any medical advice. You need to see your own professional. Your problem may well be different from what you think it is, even with the help of this site. Please note that all information and photographs on this site are copyrighted by the Conejo - Los Robles Podiatry Centers and cannot be used for any private or commercial use.

08/07/2008

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ACORN – November 2005

Feet at High Risk with Diabetes

By: Michael Zapf, DPM

With ironic timing National Diabetes Month starts the day after Halloween. For some people with diabetes the condition can be frightening. For most, however, careful attention to their diabetes can result in a long life free of complications.

In diabetes the hormone insulin fails to get blood sugar into the cells resulting in cells starving for sugar despite high levels in the blood. The key to overcoming this condition is a healthy diet, exercise and being normal weight. When these measures fail you might need medication sometimes including insulin.

If you have borderline diabetes, a family history of the condition, extra weight (especially around the middle), excess thirst or a history of giving birth to a very large baby, this diabetes month is great time to ask you doctor about a simple blood test for diabetes.

The feet are at high risk in diabetes. The high blood sugar levels cause the nerves to fail, causing first burning feet then numbness Also, the blood vessels clog and the immune system falters. The result is too often an infection of the skin that leads to an infection of the bone and finally an amputation. Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable amputations.

If you have diabetes you should have your feet checked by your podiatrist at least once a year, even if you think nothing is wrong. We will check your pulses and do basic nerve function checks. We will look for early signs of nail, skin and orthopedic problems. With any luck we will tell you that "everything is OK for another year or 5,000 miles" and send you on your way.

Careful attention to your diabetes means that any horrors of the season come off with the costumes of October. Remember, ignore diabetic feet long enough, and they will go away.

Drs. Michael Zapf and Darren Payne have a podiatric medicine practice in Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks. As a public service they will examine without charge the feet of any diabetic patient during November. Please call their office for details: (818) 707-3668 / (805) 497-6979

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Copyright © 2000 Michael A. Zapf, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., F.A.C.F.AOA.M.
Last modified: August 07, 2008