Diabetic Foot

Prevention

Reduce your risk.

Diabetic foot can be prevented through the practice of good habits, including:

• Keep your diabetes in check. Stay on top of your diabetes, as a whole, with a close eye on your diet, nutrition and blood sugar levels. Plus, remain in constant contact with a doctor to report any abnormalities or changes that may arise.
• Regular self-examinations of your legs and feet. Nerve damage from diabetes makes it difficult for diabetics to feel the body’s normal indicators that signal when an infection is present. The use of visual examinations can counteract the lack of feeling caused by nerve damage—preventing small, treatable infections from growing into more serious conditions.
• Wear proper footwear. Shoes and socks that fit appropriately will decrease the chance of blisters or other small infections from forming. Properly sized footwear will also help to maintain the integrity of the bone structure and improve the circulation that diabetes hinders.
• Treat injuries quickly. Cuts and scrapes allow for bacteria to enter the body through the existence of open wounds. This increases the risk of larger infections developing. However, when injuries are treated quickly and efficiently, the risk of the wound intensifying decreases tremendously.
• Professional feet examination. Doctors can test a patient’s level of sensation in the extremities of the body through a monofilament test. Diabetics should visit a doctor at least once a year, even if their diabetes is well controlled, to have this test performed to see if sensation has decreased in their feet, which would increase the likelihood of not feeling a small infection. Even small infections could potentially develop into a more serious infection and lead to more serious complications.

Symptoms

Pinpoint your pain.

Diabetic foot symptoms commonly come from the underlying issue that arises within the nerves and circulation of the peripheral extremities. Normal injuries to the foot or ankle, such as a twisting of the ankle or a puncture wound, can be exacerbated by an underlying diabetic issue. An infection of the foot, on the other hand, will cause redness, swelling, localized warmth, change in skin characteristics, fever, and chills.Several common conditions that arise from diabetic foot include:

• Peripheral Neuropathy. More commonly known as nerve damage, this complication results in loss of pressure, temperature and trauma to the feet, causing diabetics to be unaware that they have injuries or puncture wounds on their feet. Unattended cuts and wounds expose patients to open sores and potentially life-threatening infections. They may also state that they feel some numbness or tingling or a “pins and needles” feeling in the toes.
• Charcot foot. Caused by numbness, this condition is a degenerative joint disease in which the bones disintegrate and fracture. Continuing to walk on the affected foot may result in more serious injuries that eventually warp the shape of the foot, leading to abnormalities or deformities.
• Poor circulation. Diabetes can reduce the efficiency of the body’s circulation, which restricts the flow of nutrients and oxygen needed for natural repair and healing.

Diagnosis

Get the answers you need.

Diagnosing diabetic foot relies on a doctor thoroughly examining a patient’s medical history, including his/her diabetic history, and performing a physical exam, X-ray, ultrasound, angiogram and lab tests.

Treatment

Life’s too short to put up with pain.

The best way to treat diabetic foot is by preventing small wounds from escalating into larger problems. Our physicians will provide a professional inspection of your feet, checking for the presence of any wounds or abnormalities, and provide the necessary care for any abnormalities that are found. They will also use tools to test the sensation that is able to be felt in the foot and lower extremities to determine how at risk you are with the diabetic neuropathy. All abnormalities and injuries—even the most minor—should be reported to our physicians. Diabetic foot treatment options are centered on increasing sensation and improving blood flow to the feet. Options include:

• Proper-fitting footwear to maintain the integrity of the bone structure and improve circulation
• A total contact cast or a custom-walking boot to promote blood flow
• Surgical procedures to correct foot and ankle deformities

Our foot and ankle doctors utilize diagnostic and treatment innovations to manage foot complications from diabetes. Diabetic foot care can help to alleviate pain and prevent further health problems.