Day 42/100 Sugar Down

Sugar Down

Stormin’

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Here are the main points from the article “What Your Feet Say About Your Health” on WebMD:

Feet can reveal early warning signs of health problems such as coldness, swelling, numbness, or color changes. (WebMD)
Problems with nerve function — often from conditions like Diabetes — may show up as tingling, numbness, or pain in the feet, meaning you may not notice small wounds or infections. (WebMD)
Poor circulation (reduced blood flow) can also show up in the feet, leading to cold skin, slow-healing sores, or discoloration. (WebMD)
Swelling, redness, or warmth — especially if sudden — may signal serious complications (like nerve damage, pressure sores, or even bone/joint issues) and should not be ignored. (WebMD)
For people with chronic conditions like diabetes, regular foot inspections, good hygiene, and prompt attention to any foot anomalies are vital to prevent complications. (WebMD)

10 Key Diabetic Foot-Care Tips

1. Inspect Your Feet Every Day

Look for:

Red spots
Blisters
Cuts, cracks, or dry skin
Swelling
Color changes
Use a mirror or your phone camera if bending is difficult.
Why it matters: Nerve damage makes problems easy to miss until they’re serious.

2. Wash and Moisturize Daily — But Not Between the Toes

Use warm (not hot) water
Dry thoroughly
Apply lotion to tops/bottoms only

Why it matters: Moisture between toes can cause fungal infections.

3. Keep Toenails Straight Across

If you can’t see or reach well, consider a podiatrist visit every 2–3 months.

Why it matters: Curved cutting → ingrown nails → infections.

4. Never Go Barefoot — Indoors or Outdoors

Even in your apartment or on carpet.

Why it matters: One tiny cut you don’t feel can turn into a major issue.

5. Always Test Water Temperature First

Neuropathy makes hot water feel “warm.”
Use your elbow or wrist instead of your foot.

6. Wear Properly Fitted Shoes

Signs your shoes are wrong:

Pressure spots
Red marks after wearing
Toes rubbing
Heel slipping
Better choices:
Wide toe box
Soft insides
No seams digging into the skin

If needed: Medicare often covers diabetic shoes each year with a doctor’s prescription.

7. Keep Your Blood Sugar Controlled

This is the #1 protector of nerves and circulation.
Simple daily habits help:

Low-carb or keto meals
Walking — even 5–10 minutes a few times daily
Keeping stress lower

You’re already moving toward this with your carnivore / low-carb plan.

8. Manage Corns, Calluses, and Thick Skin Gently

Never use:

Razors
Sharp tools
Drugstore “corn remover” acids
Use:
A pumice stone after bathing
Lotion nightly

Or ask a podiatrist to handle them.

9. Watch for Changes in Color, Temperature, or Shape

Call your doctor immediately if you see:

Persistent redness
One foot suddenly warmer than the other
Swelling that lasts overnight
Foot arch collapse (possible Charcot foot)
Black/blue areas (poor circulation)

These can be early warning signs of serious complications.

10. Build Your Balance and Lower-Leg Strength

This reduces falls and protects your feet from injury.
Simple senior-safe options:

Chair stands
Heel raises
Toe lifts
Marching in place
5-minute hallway walks
Soft-ball grip exercises for dexterity (helps with neuropathy)

Simple Daily Foot-Inspection Routine (2–3 Minutes)

1. Get Your Light & Tools Ready

Sit somewhere stable: chair, bed, or sofa
Use a bright lamp or your phone flashlight
Keep a small hand mirror nearby (or use your phone camera)

Goal: See every part of both feet without straining.

2. Check the Tops of Your Feet

Look for:

Red spots
Swelling
Shiny skin (could be circulation issues)
Color changes (pale, blue, or dark patches)

If your foot looks different from yesterday, note it.

3. Check the Bottoms of Your Feet

Use the mirror or phone camera. Look for:

Cuts
Cracks
Blisters
Calluses
Bruising
Dry or peeling skin

Anything new — even tiny — matters.

4. Check Between the Toes

Use the mirror or gently spread toes with a clean tissue.
Look for:

Moisture
Redness
White “soft skin” (maceration)
Peeling
Fungal rash

Never apply lotion between the toes.

5. Look at Your Heels

Check for:

Cracks
Dry, thick skin
Redness from shoes
Painful areas

Heels are common trouble spots for diabetics.

6. Check Toenails

You’re looking for:

Yellowing
Thickening
Ingrown corners
Red skin around the nail
Bruised nails

Nail changes can signal infection or circulation issues.

7. Feel for Temperature Differences

Use the back of your hand and compare:

Left foot vs. right foot
Toes vs. heel
Top vs. bottom

One foot noticeably warmer can be a warning sign (Charcot foot).
Cold toes can signal circulation issues.

8. Do a Quick Touch Test

Use your fingertip:

Lightly touch each toe, the ball of your foot, arch, and heel
Notice: Can you feel it? Does it feel “dull?” Any tingling?

This helps track neuropathy over time.

9. Check Your Shoes Before Putting Them On

Look inside for:

Small rocks or sand
Wrinkles in the insole
Debris
A rough seam

A tiny pebble can cause a sore you won’t feel.

10. If You Notice Any of These, Act Today

Open sore
Redness that lasts more than 24 hours
Swelling
Warm spots
Black or blue areas
Toenail infection
A blister you didn’t feel

Call your podiatrist or primary doctor immediately.

Early treatment prevents amputations — and keeps you independent.

Charcot foot is a progressive condition that causes weakness and breakdown of the bones, joints, and soft tissues in the foot or ankle, most commonly as a complication of diabetes-related peripheral neuropathy. Key features include the foot being insensitive to pain due to nerve damage, leading to repeated minor injuries that the person doesn’t notice. Symptoms start with redness, warmth, and swelling, and can progress to severe joint and bone deformities, such as a “rocker-bottom” foot. Treatment requires offloading the foot with casts, braces, or bed rest, and may involve surgery for severe deformities.

Causes and risk factors

Peripheral neuropathy: Nerve damage, most often caused by diabetes, leads to a loss of sensation in the foot.
Repetitive microtrauma: Without the ability to feel pain, repetitive stress and minor injuries accumulate in the foot, triggering the condition.
Other causes: While diabetes is the most common cause, other conditions that cause loss of sensation in the foot can also lead to Charcot foot. [1]

Symptoms

Early stage:
- Swelling, redness, and warmth in the foot or ankle
- Pain (though this may be absent if neuropathy is severe)
Later stages:
- Changes in the shape of the foot, including a flattened arch or “rocker-bottom” shape
- Joint dislocation or instability
- Development of ulcers or sores on the skin from pressure points

Treatment and management

Offloading: The most critical step is to remove all weight from the affected foot to allow the bones and joints to heal.
- This can involve strict bed rest, casting, crutches, or a specialized brace.
Conservative and surgical management:
- Treatment can take several months.
- Surgery may be necessary for severe deformities that cannot be corrected with a brace or orthotic.
Ongoing care: Patients need education and management to prevent further complications, as the underlying nerve damage is often permanent. [2, 3]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://surgicaloncology.ucsf.edu/condition/charcot-foot

[2] https://resources.healthgrades.com/right-care/foot-health/charcot-foot

[3] https://www.northstarfoot.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-charcot-foot-treatment

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Brain microinfarcts are tiny, microscopic areas of brain tissue death caused by a lack of oxygen due to a blocked blood vessel. They are often associated with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol and can be a contributing factor to dementia, although they may not cause noticeable symptoms on their own. While some may cause subtle symptoms, detection often requires specialized MRI, and in some cases, the tiny strokes are “silent”. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

Causes

Advanced age: Microinfarcts are very common in older adults. [6]
Chronic diseases: Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol increase the risk. [6]
Smoking: Tobacco use is a significant risk factor. [6]
Obstructive sleep apnea: This condition is also linked to a higher risk. [6]
Sickle cell disease: This genetic condition can lead to both small and large cerebral infarcts. [2]

Symptoms

Symptoms can be subtle and often go unnoticed. [6]
Cognitive and emotional changes: Difficulty focusing, anxiety, depression, or irritability can occur. [6]
Physical changes: Fatigue, urinary urgency, or bladder incontinence may be present. [6]
Speech and coordination issues: Slurred speech or a temporary loss of balance can be a sign. [6, 10]
Dementia: Multiple microinfarcts, even if individually silent, can accumulate and lead to dementia over time. [6, 7]

Detection

High-resolution MRI: Specialized, high-field-strength MRI can detect microinfarcts that are not visible to the naked eye. [9, 11]
Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI): This technique can find very recent microinfarcts, but the signal fades over a couple of weeks. [9, 12]
Neuropathological examination: Examining brain tissue under a microscope is considered the definitive way to diagnose them, though it may not cover the entire brain. [1, 9]

[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3359329/

[2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5851653/

[3] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/transient-ischaemic-attack-tia/

[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36893583/

[5] https://www.cspi.org/article/sharp-tack-what-may-sustain-your-brain

[6] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22927-microvascular-ischemic-disease

[7] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6063-multi-infarct-dementia

[8] https://www.ijbs.com/v18p1569.htm

[9] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5861500/

[10] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/transient-ischemic-attack/expert-answers/mini-stroke/faq-20058390

[11] https://practicalneurology.com/diseases-diagnoses/stroke/stroke-snapshot-cerebral-microinfarcts-etiology-and-clinical-implications-of-this-novel-mri-marker/32105/

[12] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37470314/

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TDP-43 is a protein involved in normal RNA and DNA metabolism, but its misfolded and aggregated form is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases. In these conditions, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the protein clumps together into abnormal deposits in the brain and spinal cord. The dysfunction of TDP-43 is linked to both the loss of its normal function and a toxic gain of function, contributing to the damage and death of neurons. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Normal function

Regulates RNA/DNA: TDP-43 is crucial for processes like RNA splicing, transport, and maturation. [2, 3, 6]
Stress response: It is involved in the cell’s response to stress and helps form stress granules. [2, 7]
Development: It plays a role in the development of central nervous system cells. [2]

Role in disease

Misfolding and aggregation: Under pathological conditions, TDP-43 aggregates and accumulates in neurons, forming inclusions. [1, 6]
Neurodegenerative diseases: This aggregation is a key feature of several diseases, most prominently ALS and FTD. It is also found in other conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and certain forms of Parkinson’s disease. [1, 3, 4, 6]
Loss of function: When TDP-43 forms aggregates, it is sequestered from the nucleus, leading to a loss of its essential functions, like proper RNA splicing. [8]
Toxic gain of function: The aggregated form of the protein is also believed to be toxic to neurons, although the exact mechanisms are still being researched. [5, 9]