Diabetic Foot Ulcers Specialist

Why do I need regular diabetic foot exams?

As a systemic disease, diabetes can wreak havoc all over your body, including your feet and ankles. Diabetic foot damage can grow so severe that it requires amputation, and more than 200 Americans have a diabetes-related amputation every day.

The podiatrists are diabetic foot care and limb salvage experts who can treat problems like diabetic foot ulcers effectively and with minimal damage to your healthy tissue. Simply by having regular diabetic foot exams, you can potentially reduce your amputation risk by 45-85%.

What are diabetic foot ulcers?

A diabetic foot ulcer is a sore that usually occurs on the bottom of your foot or top of your toes, in areas where you sustain pressure. It's quite common for diabetic foot ulcers to develop underneath untreated corns or calluses, because the built-up skin causes irritation that triggers ulceration. 

You can also develop diabetic foot ulcers because of foot trauma, foot deformity, extreme temperature exposure, puncture with a sharp object, or other reasons.

What am I susceptible to diabetic foot ulcers?

There are a few factors that make you more susceptible to diabetic foot ulcers as a diabetes sufferer, including:

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is nerve damage, a very common effect of diabetes. When you have neuropathy, you're less able to feel pain, heat, cold, and other sensations in your feet. This means that it's often easy to get a cut or tiny puncture that turns into a serious open wound without ever feeling a thing.

Decreased circulation

Many diabetes sufferers have circulatory problems, such as peripheral vascular disease. Circulatory disorders cause decreased blood flow to your extremities, and that means your feet get less of what they need for both basic maintenance and healing. This reduced circulation can dramatically slow your recovery, meaning that even minor damage could become major.

Infection risk

In general, diabetes sufferers have increased infection susceptibility. With a higher risk of infection, nearly any kind of foot damage could cause severe damage very quickly. 

When you combine neuropathy, poor circulation, and increased infection risk, it's clear to see why your risk of foot ulcers is so high.

How do you treat diabetic foot ulcers?

Your podiatric specialist at Foot & Ankle of the Carolinas can help with:

• Prescription diabetic shoes
• Custom orthotics
• Local wound care, including dressing and bandaging 
• Antibiotics, if infected

If you need surgery, your podiatric surgeon can perform limb salvage surgery to help you avoid a full amputation in many cases. As you heal, you may need a cast, brace, or other type of supportive device. 

Get compassionate diabetic foot care from the wound care specialists at Foot & Ankle of the Carolinas by calling either office or booking online today.