Diabetes is a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, but it doesn’t just affect your blood sugar. Diabetes can affect all parts of your body from your kidneys to your vision to your feet.
If you have diabetes and develop a wound on your foot, receiving experienced diabetic wound care can help you avoid the unwanted complications.
At Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Specialists, our team of podiatrists excels at treating diabetic wounds with the most advanced techniques and technologies.
Below, we discuss diabetic wounds, their dangerous complications, and how we treat them.
A diabetic foot ulcer is a wound or open sore. These wounds frequently form on the bottom of the foot, and they develop in about 15% of people with diabetes.
Because diabetes can eventually restrict the blood flow to your lower limbs and damage your nerves, wounds become problematic for two reasons:
Diabetic foot wounds are common, but if you seek prompt podiatric care at the first sign of a sore, you can avoid unwanted complications. Ideally, you should inspect your feet daily for any signs of sores, blisters, or cuts.
Diabetic ulcers are serious. As many as 6% of those with foot ulcers are hospitalized each year due to an infection or complication of the ulcer. Complications of diabetic wounds include:
As diabetes cases in the United States continue to increase, researchers report that the number of diabetes-related amputations has jumped 50% in a six-year period. This makes diabetic wounds the No. 1 cause of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations.
Diabetic wounds don’t necessarily start off as a serious injury. Even a blister can cause problems if it doesn’t heal properly.
Although it’s tempting to apply an over-the-counter ointment and bandage, this isn’t enough to adequately treat a diabetic wound.
Here at Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Specialists, we provide both surgical and nonsurgical wound care to ensure your diabetic wounds heal properly. Depending on your condition, we may suggest a combination of the following treatments:
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is designed to help your body take in more oxygen to promote healing and fight off infections.
During your hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you breathe in 100% oxygen from inside a pressurized chamber. This quickly increases the concentration of oxygen in your bloodstream, which then delivers the oxygen to your wound site for improved healing.
Advanced treatments such as bioengineered skin substitutes and oxygen therapy can spell the difference between infection, gangrene, or amputation and a healthy foot. Our experienced podiatrists ensure that you receive the most up-to-date and effective treatments.
To learn more about diabetic wounds or any of our advanced treatment options, contact us at any of our locations throughout southeastern Florida. We are conveniently located in Tamarac, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Coral Springs, and Hollywood.
