Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetic Foot Care services offered in The Fan, VCU, Richmond, VA
Diabetes and foot problems often go hand-in-hand, but diabetic foot care can help you avoid foot ulcers and amputation. At Richmond Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates, dedicated podiatrists Weston Angermeier, DPM, and Rachel Hensley, DPM, provide diabetic foot care, including preventive care and acute treatments. Call the Richmond, Virginia, office now or use the online booking tool to schedule your appointment.
Quick Facts About Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetes can cause nerve damage in the feet, known as diabetic neuropathy, which can lead to numbness or reduced sensation in the feet.
Checking your feet daily is an important part of diabetic foot care and can help identify any problems early.
Properly fitted shoes are essential for those with diabetes, as they help reduce pressure on the feet and provide cushioning against potential impacts and sores.
Diabetic Foot Care
Q & A
What is diabetic foot care?
Diabetic foot care is complete foot care tailored to people with diabetes. Richmond Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates offers preventive and acute diabetic foot care.
Preventive care involves regular checkups and strategies to avoid complications like slow healing wounds and foot ulcers. Acute diabetic foot care involves as-needed treatments, like wound care.
Why do I need diabetic foot care?
People with diabetes experience high blood sugar levels. These high levels can cause severe health problems, including poor blood circulation and nerve damage.
Nerve damage typically causes loss of sensation, particularly in your feet. You might not notice punctures, cuts, abrasions, or corns and calluses because you can’t feel them, and the untreated wound can quickly become infected or worse.
Poor blood circulation complicates matters because foot wounds aren’t getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal. This is why many people with diabetes develop wounds that heal very slowly or not at all.
Eventually, an untreated foot wound can lead to skin infection, abscesses, gangrene (tissue death), bone infections, and other problems. The damage can become so severe that foot amputation is the only choice to prevent further issues.
It’s important to know that you can avoid these problems. While you can’t change that you have diabetes, diabetic foot care and strict blood sugar management can keep your feet healthy.
What can I expect with diabetic foot care?
Diabetic foot care at Richmond Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates is personalized to your health needs. Some of the many aspects of diabetic foot care include:
Checkups
All appointments involve complete foot exams, and every part of your feet and ankles is examined in detail.
Testing
Depending on your symptoms and current health, you might need to undergo tests. These can include nerve conduction testing to evaluate the sensation in your feet or vascular testing to check the blood circulation to your feet.
Education
Your diabetic foot care also includes guidance on caring for your feet at home. For example, you’ll learn how to inspect your feet, bathe them, and safely trim your nails.
Acute care
If you develop a foot ulcer, ingrown toenail, new foot pain, or another foot problem that concerns you, Richmond Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates provides case-specific care. Wound healing, which usually involves topical treatments and sometimes specialized healing methods, is typical acute care.
You could need surgery if you have severe diabetic foot complications, like a deep foot ulcer or Charcot foot. The practice podiatrists recommend surgery only when it’s the best way to protect your long-term foot health.
Schedule your diabetic foot care appointment online or call Richmond Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates for help today.