Diabetic Foot Care

What is diabetic foot care?

Diabetic foot care is medical care centered on diagnosing, treating, and preventing common diabetes complications like slow-healing wounds and foot ulcers. 

Why do I need diabetic foot care?

People with diabetes often experience nerve damage (neuropathy) and poor circulation in their extremities (peripheral artery disease). 

These two issues can trigger serious problems in the feet, including slow-healing wounds, foot ulcers, and even complications like Charcot foot (rocker-bottom feet). Additionally, people with diabetes are more likely to have problems like bunions, hammertoe, corns, and calluses. 

When a diabetic foot issue grows serious, it can lead to major complications like infections and gangrene (tissue death), which could spread to other parts of the body. Some people even need foot and ankle surgery to remove a severely infected or gangrenous toe, foot, or limb. 

While people with diabetes do have a high risk of serious foot issues, the good news is that diabetic foot care can help you avoid those problems. If you develop foot problems, regularly scheduled diabetic foot care helps you treat them immediately.

You need diabetic foot care to protect your feet, which has benefits for your whole body. Diabetic foot care can ensure that you remain mobile and active now and for the rest of your life. 

What treatments does diabetic foot care include?

Diabetic foot care at Los Angeles Orthopedic Surgery Specialists includes regular checkups (recommended at least once a year) along with a wide range of customized care for various diabetic foot problems. Some treatments that people with diabetes may need include: 

• Wound care
• Debridement (removal of dead skin from a wound)
• Oxygen therapy
• Wound grafts
• Custom orthotics
• Prescription shoes
• Medications like antibiotics
• Pain management

Alongside your diabetic foot care in the office, the team provides diabetes education to help you take good care of your feet and whole body at home. You’ll learn preventive care steps to maintain healthy feet, like daily foot inspections, trimming your nails straight across, and never going shoeless. 

Monitoring your blood sugar, taking your diabetes medications as directed, and responding to issues quickly are all critical parts of diabetic foot care as well. Good diabetic foot care can keep you out of the hospital, so it’s worth taking the time to do it.

If you have new foot issues or are due for a diabetic foot checkup, call Los Angeles Orthopedic Surgery Specialists or use the online booking tool now.