By Vivian Richardson, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Unsightly toenails may be more than a reason not to wear sandals. Now, doctors say acting quickly to eradicate fungal nail infections may save diabetic patients from amputation.

Researchers from Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago report about 75 percent of people with diabetes who are at high risk for amputation will also have diseased toenails. Spotting fungal nail infections and starting treatment quickly may help a diabetes patient avoid a more severe infection, which could force doctors to amputate a toe, a foot, or even a leg.

"If someone shows up with an ugly toenail, then that, by extension, seems to be a harbinger for a toenail infection, which is also a harbinger for complications in high risk people with diabetes," Rosalind Franklin podiatrist David Armstrong, D.P.M, M.Sc., Ph.D., told Ivanhoe. "Often the fungal toenail can also lead to athlete's foot, and athlete's foot can lead to cracks in the skin, which can lead to other types of bacterial infections."

Amputation is a serious risk for diabetes patients. People with diabetes may develop blood circulation and nerve problems in their lower extremities, which can lead to slow-healing wounds. When diabetics develop severe ulcers or infected wounds on their feet or legs, doctors must sometimes amputate the affected area to prevent the infection from spreading throughout the body.

Dr. Armstrong said a toenail infection could be the first damage in the armor. "Often so many of these problems, like amputation, start out as stupid little things, and maybe a toenail infection is one of those stupid little things," he said.

Treating a toenail infection is a slow process. After trimming away diseased portions, the doctor will prescribe a topical or oral anti-fungal medication. It can take many months for the toenail to grow out and be healthy again. However, Dr. Armstrong recommends seeking treatment to anyone who is bothered by the way his or her toenails look or feel.

"If we just get high risk patients and doctors to look at people's feet a little bit more, that's what is probably going to stop the needless number of high level amputations, not only in the United States, but around the world," said Dr. Armstrong. "I think that's the bottom line."

SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with David G. Armstrong, D.P.M., M.Sc., Ph.D.