Diabetic Foot Care & Treatments In Scottsdale
Why is diabetic foot care important?
Diabetes is a chronic disease causing high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Diabetes affects millions of people every year. Diabetes also weakens your immune system, making it more difficult for your body to fight off infections, which can, in turn, damage your nervous system. This damage can affect the ability to feel sensations in your feet. This may leave you with decreased feeling in the feet, putting you at a higher risk of injury.
Damage to your nervous system can affect your feets’ ability to produce sweat and other natural oils that keep the skin lubricated. Without proper lubrication, the skin, bones, and joints of the foot can become injured.
You may not be able to walk if you allow the tissue damage to continue to get worst.
Sometimes, those with diabetes do not notice sores or injuries to their feet until it is too late. It is important to maintain proper foot health and seek treatments immediately when an injury is present.
Poorly fitting shoes are the number one cause of foot injury when it comes to diabetes. Red spots, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, or any persistent pain should be taken seriously, and properly fitting footwear (along with orthotics) should be worn.
Diabetic foot Symtoms
- A loss of feeling from knee to toes
- Blisters or other minor wounds without pain
- Deep wounds with or without drainage
- Light staining on socks
- Numbness or painful tingling sensation
- Red streaks and skin colorizing
- Skin discoloration and temperature changes
With infection, the patient may also experience the followings:
- Chills & Fever
- Uncontrollable blood sugar
- Shaking & shock pain
- Redness on leg, ankle, foot and toes
Diabetic foot care at home!
Diabetic foot care at home is possible if a patient is provided with instructions from their physician. Patient lives in Scottsdale and nearby area can reach out to our Foot Doctor for a list of foot care instruction. Patients can cure dry heels with creams or ointments. If trying to remove a callus with a tool, practice caution as severe diabetics may not be able to feel pain. Improper removal may cause a wound to develop.
Always washing and thoroughly drying the feet are pertinent parts of diabetic foot care. There should be a focus on cleaning between the toes. Even if no pain is felt, the entire foot should be
examined for redness and sores. Neuropathy can often mask the pain of sores and ulcers, and cause these conditions to be overlooked. Use a mirror to examine the underside of your feet if
needed. It is recommended that diabetics wear well-fitting socks.
Ask foot doctor about the proper diabetic foot treatments!
Patients with diabetes should have their foot doctor monitor their blood levels because blood sugar levels play a huge role in diabetic care. Diabetic feet must be inspected on a daily basis. Monitoring these levels on a regular basis is highly advised. It is very important to keep your blood sugar levels in the normal range, which can be determined by your physician.
Set up regular visits with our podiatrist since proper diabetic foot care is necessary. There are medications that a physician may prescribe to help with neuropathy of the diabetic patient. It is also advisable to visit a podiatrist if the diabetic patient is experiencing any conditions involving the feet such as ingrown toenails, which in more severe cases can cause infection.
If you suspect that you have a diabetic wound, notify your doctor immediately. Gangrene is a serious problem for diabetics and can lead to sepsis and amputation in its worst cases. Early treatment and daily inspection of diabetic feet are keys to staying healthy.
The proven diabetic wound treatments from a doctor!
Diabetic wounds should be taken care of immediately after discovery, as even the smallest of wounds can become infected if enough bacteria build up within the wound.
To remove dirt, wounds should be first rinsed under running water only. Soap, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine can irritate the injury and should be avoided.
To prevent infection, apply antibiotic ointment to the wound and cover it with a bandage. The bandage should be changed daily. The skin around the wound may be cleaned with soap. To prevent further exacerbation, see Dr. Kosak in Scottsdale – especially if you have diabetes. Minor skin conditions can become larger problems if not properly inspected. As the wound heals, make sure to avoid applying pressure to the affected area.
If left untreated or unmanaged, diabetic foot problems can lead to problems like losing a toe, foot, or leg.
Prevention is the key to maintaining proper foot health. For more information on diabetic foot problems, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (480) 247-8443!