The picture says it all -- Charcot foot, a rare diabetes foot complication, is a serious deformity not to be ignored. According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), as the rate of diabetes has increased, so have cases of Charcot foot.

Neuropathy is a common diabetic foot complication. Severe neuropathy can cause the foot's bones to suddenly soften, resulting in Charcot foot. Bones can be weak enough to fracture, and with neuropathy masking pain, continued walking can lead to joint loss, collapse of the arch, deformity, ulcers, amputation and possibly death. Symptoms to watch out for include warm and red skin, swelling and pain. Sometimes doctors mistakenly attribute Charcot's swelling to infection and prescribe antibiotics. This only buys more time for Charcot's destruction to continue -- the bottom of the foot can eventually become convex and bulge outward.

Well-informed people with diabetes know about Charcot foot, but ACFAS remains concerned many patients and health care providers are unaware of the condition or its warning signs. Spread the word to people with diabetes as Charcot's progressive destruction can be halted if caught early. Picture from www.footphysicians.com.

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