PODIATRIST IN SCOTTSDALE

Diabetic Foot Care

If you have diabetes, it’s important to take proper care of your feet. Chronically high blood sugar, or blood glucose can cause severe complications and your feet are especially vulnerable. Contact Talus inMotion Foot & Ankle and schedule an appointment today to learn more about diabetes and how it affects your feet. Our experienced podiatrists, Dr. Martin and Dr. Yozsa will be happy to sit down with you to answer your questions in diabetic foot care. 

Diabetes And Your Feet

To prevent diabetic foot complications, it’s very important to take good care of them, and to recognize symptoms of the disease. Proper foot care can help you prevent possible amputation in the most severe cases. So what causes diabetic foot complications.

Diabetic foot complications is usually caused by poor blood supply. Once you have problems with circulation in your feet and get any kind of wound, it can take it much longer to heal. Your leg and foot will usually become numb and cold, and swelling often occurs, too.

Eventually, you can develop diabetic ulcers. These are open wounds that have difficulty healing. This is usually caused by neuropathy, which is a loss of sensation in your foot, caused by poor circulation. When the nerves are damaged in your foot, you can start getting injuries and open sores that you can’t feel. This can eventually lead to an amputation if it is not cared for.

Diabetic Foot Complications Treatment

Diabetic foot ulcers are treated depending upon their severity. The first stage will be to remove any factors that are exerting pressure on sensitive areas of the foot. This could include footwear such as shoes or socks.

Here are a few treatment tips:

  • Remove Pressure – If you have developed a foot ulcer, you first need to remove pressure from the wound. This can be done by removing shoes and socks from the foot, or replace them with footwear that doesn’t apply any pressure to the spot.
  • Avoid Extreme Temperatures – If you live in a cold climate, you need to take extra care of your feet. You could easily develop frostbite without ever knowing it. Don’t allow your feet to be exposed to the elements for a long time. If you are taking a bath, check the temperature of the water with your hand or elbow to make sure it is not too hot. Your foot could be damaged without knowing it.
  • Antibiotics – If the area of your foot is infected, your foot doctor will prescribe antibiotics.
  • Home Care – If you are disabled by diabetes in your feet, your podiatrist will probably suggest some kind of medical home care by a trained nurse. A nurse can help you change your dressings, and keep your wounds clean.
  • Specialized Podiatrist Care – If you have calluses or corns on your feet, you will need to have them removed by your podiatrist. The same goes for any other foot injuries.
 

The best way of dealing with diabetic foot complications is to seek quick medical attention. Your podiatrist will determine what is best for your condition. So, it’s best to see a foot doctor as soon as you notice symptoms of diabetes in your feet.

Common Diabetic Conditions

Diabetes is linked to an increased risk of foot problems.  Specific foot problems that can occur with diabetes include pain, numbness and tingling, swelling, non-healing wounds and skin conditions and nail deformities. 

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