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Home Tag: "diabetic ulcer of the foot"

Tag: diabetic ulcer of the foot

17Mar
Foot wound treatment by podiatrist at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center.
Foot ulcers are persistent wounds that typically form on the feet, frequently caused by poor blood flow, nerve impairment, or trauma.

Did you know that honey has been used for centuries to heal wounds? Ancient Egyptians believed in its properties, and modern science has backed up its antibacterial benefits. But when it comes to diabetic foot ulcers, honey alone won’t do it. These deep wounds require strategic diabetic foot care to heal effectively and prevent complications.

If you are living with diabetes, you know how tricky diabetic foot ulcers can be. They are stubborn, slow to heal, and sometimes feel like they are running the show. But here is the good news: with the right care and guidance, you can take control and speed up the healing process. At Deniel Foot & Ankle Center we help you navigate this journey. Let us dive into how you can heal deep wounds faster and keep your feet happy and healthy.

Read More “Speeding Up Healing: How to heal deep wounds faster”
28Feb

diabetic foot ulcerDeveloping a non-healing wound can be one of the most serious and devastating complications for a diabetic patient. These wounds or open sores are also called diabetic ulcers, and they frequently occur on the foot. Diabetic foot ulcers are prone to infections, and this puts patients at a higher risk of hospitalization and need for surgery or amputation.

Read More “How To Manage Non-Healing Foot Ulcers In Diabetic Patients”
Medical professional inspecting a foot wound with a finger pointing at the sore.
28Nov

diabetic foot ulcer

What Is Wound Care?

A wound occurs when the internal tissue is exposed to the skin, due to an external or internal injury. Most people conduct wound care at home but consult a podiatrist for proper diabetic wound care. Seek diabetic foot ulcer treatment from a podiatrist to avoid the development of complications that may lead to hospitalization of patients. Foot ulcers for diabetic patients can lead to amputation if wound care treatment is not well done.

Wound care treatment

There are basic principles for wound care; ensure you wear protective gear when attending to a wound.

  1. Hemostasis – Applied to significant wounds with bleeding to stop the bleeding. The bleeding is stopped by reducing the bleeding or aiding the hemostasis process. Some of the techniques used include elevation, suturing, pressure, or tourniquet.
  2. Cleaning the wound – This promotes healing and reduces the infection. Five main steps of wound cleaning are
    1. Disinfect all around the wound without getting detergents and alcohol into the injured area.
    2. Decontaminate by removing foreign bodies from the wound.
    3. Debride any tissues around the wound.
    4. Wet the wound with saline if no obvious contamination can be seen. Saline should be stored in a sterile container.
    5. For heavily soiled wounds, open foot fractures, puncture wounds, and animal bites use antibiotics. It is advisable to introduce antibiotics at the first sign of wound infection.
  3. Skin closure – This aids the wound healing using skin adhesive strips, tissue adhesive glue, sutures, and staples are some skin closure techniques for the edge of the wounds.
  4. Dress the wound – This effectively reduces contamination and infection of the injury. When dressing, the first layer should be saline-soaked, followed by an absorbent material layer to attract wound exudates. Finally, use a soft gauze to secure the dressing in place. It is advisable to get tetanus immunization if not already done.

Diabetic foot ulcer treatment

Patients using insulin are at a higher risk of developing a foot ulcer.  Also, for overweight people or people who use alcohol and tobacco the risk is high. A diabetic foot ulcer develops due to lack of feeling in the foot, trauma, foot deformities, and irritation. Pain may not be felt by diabetic patients. Seek podiatric medical care for diabetic foot ulcer treatment. This reduces the risk of wound infection leading to amputation. To appropriately treat a diabetic foot ulcer, ensure that you:

  • Prevent infections.
  • Offload or take the pressure off the wound.
  • Regularly remove dead tissue and skin from the wound.
  • Apply dressing and medication to the ulcer.
  • Manage blood glucose under tight control to avoid ulcer infection.
  • Clean the wound daily and dress it.
  • Ensure adequate circulation on the ulcerated area with the help of a podiatrist.
  • Surgical treatment – If other ulcer treatments are not effective, surgical management may be used to correct deformities and shave or excision the bone.

The time needed for healing depends on different factors including wound care management used and the diabetic foot ulcer treatment used.
Over at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center  located in Houston, Texas, and covering surrounding areas like Cypress, and Katy, TX. Ejodamen Shobowale, DPM and her highly skilled staff provide personalized comprehensive care for all your podiatry and sport medicine needs. Whether the issue is foot-related like hammertoes, or toenail fungus or involves pain in the heel , nerves, or joints, Dr. Sho, as she is fondly called, can get you back on your feet in no time.

Close-up of a diabetic foot with severe ulcer and infection.
20Sep

diabetic foot

 Diabetes is a disease that results in inadequate and faulty production or less sensitivity to insulin. Insulin is an important hormone in the body whose function is to assist the cells in absorbing sugar from the blood so that it can be utilized for producing energy.   When this whole process gets disturbed or does not work properly, then the sugar keeps circulating in the blood which leads to various health issues.

 If high levels of sugar continue to persist for a longer period of time, it can harm many parts of the body including the feet. According to a recent survey, diabetes is accountable for causing over 50 percent of foot amputations in the United States. People suffering   from diabetes are   more susceptible to developing foot problems that result due to high levels of blood sugar. Some of the most common foot problems that occur due to diabetes are peripheral vascular disease and diabetic neuropathy. Both these problems are     known to result in severe complications

 The foot problems that are triggered due to diabetes

 The two major foot problems that are caused as a result of diabetes are:

  • Peripheral Vascular Disease-

Diabetes results in alterations in the blood vessels especially the arteries. In this disease, the fatty deposits cause an obstruction in the blood vessels beyond the heart and brain. Peripheral Vascular disease has the tendency to affect the blood vessels leading back and forth from the ends like the hands and feet, minimizing the flow of the blood to both the parts. The decreased level of blood flow can result in wounds that recover at a slow pace, pain, and infection. This disease can develop a serious infection and in such a case, a footdoctor in Houston at DeNiel Foot & Ankle Center may recommend foot amputation. A person suffering from peripheral vascular disease is also prone to develop ulcers and gangrene (a condition that is caused due to the death of the tissue because of the lack of blood.)

  • Diabetic Neuropathy –

Over a period of time, diabetes can result in nerve damage that causes numbness in the foot. Such a condition makes it more difficult for a person to feel sensation in the hands and feet. Diabetic neuropathy also makes it challenging for a diabetic patient to feel any infection, irritation, or soreness at the extremities. They may also not be able to observe when their shoes are rubbing. Diabetic neuropathy can result in a greater risk of blisters, cuts, and sores.

If a person suffering from diabetes does not undergo treatment for the condition, then it can lead to the development of ulcers, infections, and even gangrene.

Symptoms of foot problems

According to DeNiel Foot & Ankle Center’s podiatrists in Houston, foot symptoms that result due to diabetes are as follows:

1) Wounds with drainage

2) Stained socks

3) Severe tingling

4) Blisters without any pain

5) Red striations

6) Numbness or lack of sensation

7)  Temperature variations and skin discoloration

In case of an infection, a diabetic patient may also experience:

1) Chills

2) Shaking

3) Fever

4) High blood sugar levels

5) Redness

Treatment for foot problems

Different surgical and non-surgical options are available for the treatment of foot problems:

  • Non-surgical treatment-

A Houston podiatrist will initially try to treat the condition without any surgery by cleaning and dressing the wound, wearing a total contact cast or cast boot, or carefully observing any gangrene till self-amputation occurs.

  • Surgical treatment –

It includes the removal of dead tissues, amputations, surgical stabilization, arterial bypass, and endovascular surgery.

It is important that you take care of foot hygiene. You can do this by taking steps like washing the feet daily, wearing supportive shoes, trimming nails cautiously, controlling blood sugar levels, going for regular foot examinations, and caring for bunions as well as corns.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Houston,TX. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.