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Diabetic foot care promotes better nerve and blood vessel health, which can help you avoid severe diabetes complications, such as nonhealing wounds or limb loss. At Susz Podiatry & Wound Care, the team led by board-certified podiatrist John Susz DPM, FACFAS, provides skilled diabetic foot care. We have offices in Westfield and Lakewood, New York, and Russell, Pennsylvania. Call the office in your area now.
What is diabetic foot care?
Diabetic foot care is medical care for the feet of people with diabetes. It’s tailored to each person’s needs but generally focuses on improving foot health, preventing diabetes complications, and treating diabetic foot issues.
What kind of damage does diabetes cause in the feet?
Diabetes occurs when you’re unable to maintain proper blood glucose (sugar) levels, leading to an excess of sugar in your blood. High blood sugar can be extremely damaging to your body, with effects including both blood vessel and nerve damage.
Blood vessel damage
High blood sugar can cause atherosclerosis, in which fatty deposits build up on blood vessel walls. This effectively shrinks blood vessels, leaving less room for blood to travel to your extremities.
Blood delivery is vitally important for all parts of the body because your blood is rich in nutrients and oxygen. Your body can’t heal wounds properly when deprived of these things, and tissue death can occur.
Nerve damage
High blood sugar can also damage your nerves, often affecting the foot nerves first. Diabetic nerve damage, or peripheral neuropathy, may cause symptoms such as tingling, burning, and numbness in the feet. Nerve damage can also weaken muscles in the feet, leading to problems like stumbling and falling.
Numbness can be a particularly serious issue for people with diabetic neuropathy. If you can’t feel your feet, you can miss injuries. For example, a cut on the bottom of your foot can rapidly worsen if you don’t see it and seek treatment. Poor circulation worsens the issue because your body can’t heal normally.
Diabetes also increases your risk of bunions, ingrown toenails, foot fungus, and other foot issues, so diabetic foot care is vital.
How does diabetic foot care work?
Susz Podiatry & Wound Care provides all-encompassing diabetic foot care, starting with routine foot exams at least once or twice a year. The team helps you prevent complications with lifestyle changes, orthotics, physical therapy, and other noninvasive approaches.
For complications, such as foot wounds (diabetic foot ulcers), the team provides a spectrum of wound healing techniques, including advanced approaches like amniotic skin grafts, to help you recover and prevent further tissue loss or amputation.
The team also provides other diabetic foot care services like nail trimming, ingrown toenail removal, callus removal, and much more.
Call the nearest Susz Podiatry & Wound Care office for help today.