Foot problems are a very common complication of diabetes. One should see foot care specialist regularly for ordinary foot problems, if suffering from diabetes. Diabetes can cause nerve damage which leads to a loss of sensation in the feet. Due to this nerve damage patients occasionally may not even realize when they have a fracture and may continue to walk on an injured foot. This can lead to more severe fractures or dislocations. Eventually, this can cause deformity of the foot, a condition called Charcot arthropathy. Additionally, diabetes also causes poor circulation, which can lead to a number of problems.

In diabetes a lot of glucose accumulate in patient’s blood which causes some serious complications including foot problems.

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HOW DIABETES AFFECT YOUR FEET:

Two problems can be created by diabetes.

DIABETIC NEUROPATHY:

Uncontrolled diabetes can harm your nerves. If you have harmed nerves in your legs and feet, you probably won’t feel warmth, cold there. This absence of feeling is classified “tactile diabetic neuropathy.” If you don’t feel a cut or sore on your foot on account of neuropathy, the cut could deteriorate and get contaminated. The muscles of your foot may not work appropriately on the grounds that nerves to the muscles are harmed. This could make your foot not adjust appropriately and make an excess of weight on one aspect of your foot.

PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE:

Diabetes affect the flow of blood. Without great blood stream, it takes more time for a sore or cut to heal. Poor blood flow in the arms and legs is designated “Peripheral vascular disease.” If you have any infection that is not healed due to poor blood circulation, you are in danger of creating ulcers or gangrene (the death of tissue because of an absence of blood).

WHEN TO VISIT A PODIATRIST:

When you notice that an ulcer is formed on your foot, you need to go to see a foot care specialist. Foot ulcers in diabetic patients should be treated immediately in order to reduce the risk of getting infection or ulcer and to improve the quality of life and function. You should see a podiatrist as soon as possible to prevent any further complications.

Call your health care professional immediately if you have

  • A cut, sore, or wound on your foot that doesn’t begin to heal following a couple of days.
  • The skin on your foot gets red and warm.
  • A callus with dried blood within it, which regularly can be the principal indication of an injury under the callus.
  • An area of the foot that gets dark and foul—signs you may have gangrene.

TREATMENT OF DIABETIC FOOT:

At DFW Foot and Ankle care a Diabetic foot specialist can provide treatment for the diabetic foot. Treatment for diabetic foot is focused on prevention, monitoring, and healing any broken bones to prevent further damage to the foot.

The primary objective in the treatment of foot ulcers is to get healing at the earliest opportunity. The quicker the healing, the less possibility for an infection.

There are a few key factors in the proper treatment of a diabetic foot ulcer:

  • Prevention of infection.
  • Easing the load, called “off-loading”.
  • Eliminating dead skin and tissue, called “debridement”.
  • Applying medicine or dressings to the ulcer.
  • Managing blood glucose and other medical issues.

Not all ulcers are infected; however, if your podiatrist determines an infection is present, a treatment program of antibiotics, wound debridement, and possibly hospitalization will be fundamental to recovery.

To protect an ulcer from getting infected, it is important to:

  • Keep blood glucose levels under close control;
  • Keep the ulcer clean and bandaged;
  • Clean the injury every day, utilizing an injury dressing or gauze; and
  • Avoid walking bare foot.

LOOK FOR PROBLEMS SUCH AS:

  • Cuts, sore and red spots.
  • Swelling or fluid filled blisters.
  • Ingrown toenails.(Nail grows inside the skin which causes pain and inflammation in big toe).
  • Corns and calluses.
  • Plantar warts. (Flesh and colored growth of the feet)
  • Athlete’s foot.
  • Warm spots.

DIABETIC FOOT CARE SPECIALIST IN PLANO, FRISCO, ALLEN, MCKINNEY, CARROLTON, TX

At DFW Foot and Ankle Care, Dr. Zubeen Mistry is skilled in advanced foot and ankle techniques, including diabetic foot care and diabetic limb salvage. If you have any foot problems such as diabetic foot ulcer, corns, calluses, plantar warts, plantar fasciitis, ingrown toenails you should go to the podiatrist as soon as possible. If you are looking for a skilled podiatrist in Plano, visit Dr. Mistry. If you would like to learn more about our diabetic foot care options or schedule an appointment, please contact our office at (469) 551-8595.

At DFW Foot Ankle Care, we treat Bunions and Hammertoes, Diabetic Foot Care, Fungal Nails, Heel Pain / Plantar Fasciitis, Ingrown Toenails, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Neuroma, Pediatric Foot Problems, Plantar Wart, Running Injuries and many more foot problems.