Wound Care for Diabetic Feet

Caring for your feet is essential if you have diabetes. Wounds often take longer to heal when you are diabetic, which increases the risk of developing an infection. Minor injuries on the feet, such as small cuts or scrapes, are easily overlooked so it is important to check your feet daily and treat any wounds right away. Dr. Kyle Sundblad and Dr. Sadegh Arab, the skilled podiatrists at Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Care in Sterling Heights, MI, can help with wound care and developing a diabetic foot care routine.

Types of Diabetic Foot Problems

There is an increased risk of developing certain types of foot problems when you have diabetes. Poor blood circulation, one of the symptoms of diabetes, causes wounds to heal more slowly than they should. A longer healing time increases the risk of infection. Infections that are not caught and treated right away can lead to more serious problems, including:

• Neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Foot ulcers
• Foot calluses
• Foot swelling
• Charcot’s foot
• Gangrene
• Amputation

Scheduling regular checkups with a podiatrist is one way to care for your feet. A podiatrist can help you maintain healthy feet, improve circulation, and avoid infection, all of which can prevent more serious conditions from developing. The experienced podiatrists at our office in Sterling Heights provide wound care for diabetic feet and can help you develop an effective at-home foot care routine.

Ways to Care for Diabetic Feet

One of the best ways to care for diabetic feet is to check for injuries every day. Checking the feet daily ensures any wounds that develop are spotted right away so you can treat them promptly and reduce your risk for infection. When checking the feet look for redness, blisters, bruises, punctures, cuts, scratches, scrapes, and ingrown toenails. Immediately apply first aid measures to any wounds, which could include thoroughly cleaning and drying the area, and then applying a bandage.

There are several other steps you can take to care of diabetic feet in addition to performing daily wound checks. Some ways to maintain healthy feet include:

• Moisturizing the feet daily
• Wearing comfortable shoes
• Wearing loose socks to bed
• Refraining from soaking the feet in the water
• Keeping the feet clean, warm, and dry
• Wearing warm socks and shoes during cold weather
• Trimming toenails straight across to avoid ingrown nails
• Stretching or moving around throughout the day to promote better circulation

An effective diabetic foot care routine should include checking the feet daily and promptly treating any wounds. Regular checkups with a podiatrist can also contribute to healthier feet. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sundblad or Dr. Arab, call Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Care in Sterling Heights, MI, at (586) 731-7873.