Diabetic Foot Care

What is diabetic foot care?

Diabetic foot care at Arise Foot and Ankle consists of foot and ankle evaluations, diagnostic testing, preventive care, and treatments for patients with diabetic foot concerns.

Individuals with diabetes have a higher risk of nerve damage, diabetic ulcers, infections, and other foot problems, especially if their blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled. That’s why diabetic foot care is so vital.

What are the signs of diabetic foot problems?

Signs that may indicate a diabetic foot complication include:

• Numbness
• Burning
• Tingling
• Ulcers (open sores)
• Reduced sensitivity to pain, cold, or heat
• Blisters
• Redness
• Warmth
• Foot pain

See Dr. Stephens at the first sign of new or changing symptoms of a diabetic foot problem to avoid infections or the need for amputation.

Which diabetic foot care treatments are best suited for me?

Anyone with diabetes is a candidate for routine diabetic care with Dr. Stephens to optimize foot health and avoid painful or costly medical complications.

He completes a comprehensive foot and ankle evaluation to assess your overall foot health. He also discusses your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle. You might be a candidate for on-site foot X-rays or other imaging procedures.

After determining if you have a diabetic foot condition, Dr. Stephens discusses any potential treatment options.

What may diabetic foot care consist of?

Comprehensive diabetic foot care combines lifestyle changes with medical intervention when necessary. Examples include:

• Wearing comfortable, well-fitting shoes or diabetic shoes
• Custom orthotics
• Having good foot hygiene at home
• Keeping your toenails trimmed straight across
• Staying active
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Managing your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol
• Checking your feet daily for redness, sores (ulcers), blisters, calluses, and cuts
• Cleaning your feet daily
• Not walking barefoot
• Dressings
• Topical wound care
• Oral medications
• Antibiotics
• Compression
• Drainage
• Off-loading 
• Debridement (removing infected or damaged tissues)
• Skin grafting

See Dr. Stephens for routine diabetic foot evaluations to detect any potential problems early, before complications develop. He focuses on conservative diabetic foot care treatments, but offers surgery when necessary to maximize foot health.

Schedule a diabetic foot care evaluation today at Arise Foot and Ankle by calling the office or requesting an appointment online.