Diabetic Foot Care/Wounds Specialist

Why do I need diabetic foot care?

Diabetic foot care is a comprehensive preventive and treatment plan personalized to your own health history. When you have diabetes, your circulatory system suffers, and damage to veins can occur. This leads to decreased blood circulation.

When it comes to your lower extremities, including your feet and ankles, blood supply is already limited because of the effects of gravity. The further reduction in blood flow means that nerves become damaged and skin doesn’t get the ongoing supply of nutrients it needs to thrive.

As a result, your skin dries out and cracks rather easily. These seemingly minor wounds heal very slowly, which can leave you more vulnerable to infection. To make matters worse, because of diabetic nerve damage (neuropathy), you might not feel the wound, which can delay essential treatment even further.

Diabetic foot care involves taking measures to prevent limb-threatening wounds and ulcers, or intervene with limb salvage treatments when needed. Because you’re going to check in with your dedicated podiatrist regularly, they look for warning signs of wounds and treat you accordingly.

When should I see a podiatrist if I have diabetes?

Generally, the expert podiatrists at Hamilton Foot and Ankle Associates encourage you to come in once a year for a preventive diabetic foot care exam. They may schedule you for visits two or three times per year if you have a history of poorly managed diabetes or foot wounds, or if your diabetes diagnosis is recent.

It’s also important to have a podiatric exam when you have diabetes if you experience any of the following issues.

• Cracked skin
• Ingrown toenails
• Corns or calluses
• Bunions or hammertoes
• Foot numbness or burning
• Drainage or blood in your socks
• Visible wounds, ulcers, or blisters

These are only some of the issues that can be early indicators of serious diabetic wounds, or that can increase your risk of developing dangerous ulcers. Your dedicated podiatrist at Hamilton Foot and Ankle Associates evaluates your feet and if needed, gets you started on treatment right away.

Which diabetic foot care treatments do I need?

Hamilton Foot and Ankle Associates tailors your diabetic foot care treatment plan to your current symptoms and personal health history. If you have any of the concerns listed above, your podiatrist may:

• Trim your toenails
• Remove corns or calluses
• Perform a wound debridement
• Get you fitted for custom orthotics or diabetic shoes
• Provide padding, taping, or strapping for toe deformities

If you have a serious diabetic ulcer, your podiatrist can perform a limb-salvage procedure to remove damaged tissues and repair blood vessels and skin. The goal of your diabetic foot care plan at Hamilton Foot and Ankle Associates is to reduce your risk of limb-threatening diabetic ulcers and keep your feet healthy.

Schedule your diabetic foot care exam at Hamilton Foot and Ankle Associates today. Click on the online booking feature or call either office directly.