Welcome to the Website of

Dr. Michael Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAS

 Thank you for visiting my website. I have been placing information and articles on this site for many years and have received millions of  hits during that time (and not that many of them were mine). I have designed it for people who like to read about their foot and ankle problems. Since I started the web site, I have added two associates to my practice, Dr. Darren Payne and Dr. Stephen Benson.  Since my site is filled with just my thoughts and opinions they are not, necessarily, shared by my colleagues. To see our less controversial (and less windy) practice web site, I offer you: www.ConejoFeet.com, the practice site for The Agoura Los Robles Podiatry Centers (ALRPC). The ALRPC practice site has a lot of material about our office, many of our policies and the registration forms to be filled out before your visit. I suggest all prospective patients visit www.ConejoFeet.com.

 I made the web site to give my patients the extra depth information that I don’t always have time to cover in the office visit. Visitors who are not my patients are welcome to browse the information found here. My younger colleagues are both under 50 and they, like many their age, do not favor in depth reading. They prefer their information presented to them in a few short, crisp bullet points. I, being of the, ahem, older generation, like to read about my ailments in greater depth. Here, I present the greater depth. If you ask a question about heel pain or bunions that I have not answered in my two monographs, I will quickly add it so that it is as complete as I can make it. If you agree with this philosophy, welcome to my page. If you correspond with me please let me know if you like the in depth reporting.

 Remember, this site is in no way intended to tell you how your own ailment or problem should be treated, only the approach I use when confronted with certain situations. Your problem may well be different from what you think it is and should always be evaluated by the appropriate professional, whether podiatrist, orthopedist or other authority. Please understand that I, nor anyone else, can offer you a proper diagnosis or treatment plan without seeing and feeling the problem at hand (foot?).  Happy reading.

 Sincerely, Michael Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAS, FACFAOM

 P.S. All the information in this web site is © by me and it is mine alone. No picture or any of the articles cannot be used by anyone without permission from me, personally.

01/08/2012

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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: January 08, 2012