Diabetic Foot Care Specialist

What is diabetic foot care?

Diabetic foot care is a podiatric specialty that diagnoses and treats foot-related issues caused by diabetes. 

Diabetes doesn’t just affect your pancreas’ ability to produce insulin. Over time, it increases the risk of nerve damage and affects blood flow to your feet.

If the nerves in your feet don’t function as they should, you might step on a sharp object or cut yourself but not realize it. If you don’t know you’ve been injured, the wound could get infected, resulting in gangrene or other serious complications.

What conditions does diabetic foot care treat?

At Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group, the team uses diabetic foot care to treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Venous stasis ulcers (an open wound caused by pooling blood)
• Ingrown toenails
• Corns and calluses

If you experience any of these issues and you’re living with diabetes, make an appointment at Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group right away.

What does diabetic foot care involve?

At Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group, a diabetic foot care appointment begins with a review of your health history. Next, your provider asks about your symptoms, including their severity, and if any activities like walking barefoot or exercising make them worse.

Afterward, your provider carefully examines your feet and toes looking for open wounds, cuts, or sores. If they suspect you have neuropathy, they might also order a nerve conduction test. 

If your feet appear relatively healthy, your doctor provides you with a list of at-home recommendations. If you have an open wound, like a diabetic foot ulcer or a venous stasis ulcer, your provider cleans and dresses the wound and provides care instructions.

How can I keep my feet healthy if I have diabetes?

Living with diabetes presents unique challenges, but it’s possible to keep your feet healthy and problem-free. The team at Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group recommends:

• Monitoring your blood sugar daily
• Washing and drying your feet daily
• Inspecting your feet in the morning and at night
• Trimming your toenails regularly
• Wearing comfortable, supportive shoes
• Wearing diabetic socks

You might also benefit from healthy lifestyle changes like exercising more frequently, eating a balanced diet, quitting smoking, and losing weight.

Ultimately, the goal of treatment is to keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy range while reducing the risk of complications.

To explore diabetic foot care, make an appointment at Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group by calling the nearest office today or scheduling online.