If you’re one of the 100 million Americans living with diabetes, you benefit from diabetic foot care. Diabetic foot care can prevent neuropathy and wounds, as well as lower your risk of more serious complications like infection and amputation. At Family Foot & Ankle Care, Adam Nguyen, DPM, has years of experience treating and protecting diabetic feet and other wounds. To request your appointment today, call the office in Lubbock, Texas.

request an appointment

What is diabetic foot care?

Diabetic foot care is a branch of podiatry focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing diabetes-related foot problems.

Although there’s no cure for diabetes, diabetic foot care can help keep your circulation healthy while limiting nerve damage. This significantly decreases your risk of complications and can improve your overall mobility and quality of life.

How does diabetes affect my feet?

There are two main ways diabetes can affect your feet:

Diabetic neuropathy

Over time, uncontrolled diabetes damages your nerves. When the nerves in your feet and toes don’t work as they should, you don’t feel sensations like hot, cold, or pain. As a result, it’s possible to cut your foot or step on a foreign object and not even realize it. These wounds can become infected and require amputation.

Nerve damage also affects the muscles in your legs and feet. If your muscles don’t function at full capacity, your foot may not align properly, placing undue pressure on one or more areas of your feet.

Peripheral vascular disease

Diabetes also affects your circulation. Without healthy blood flow, cuts and wounds take longer to heal. If you have poor blood flow to your arms or legs, it’s called peripheral vascular disease (PVD). If you have PVD, you’re also more likely to develop slow-healing wounds (ulcers) and gangrene on your feet.

What are common foot problems associated with diabetes?

Foot problems affect all types of people. But if you have diabetes, you’re more likely to experience an infection or serious complications.

Dr. Nguyen regularly diagnoses and treats a variety of foot problems that people with diabetes may have, including:

  • Athlete’s foot
  • Fungal toenails
  • Calluses and corns
  • Blisters
  • Bunions
  • Hammertoes
  • Foot warts
  • Ingrown toenails

He also treats diabetic ulcers and other slow-healing wounds.

How does diabetic foot care work?

Diabetic foot care starts with a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Nguyen. During this appointment, he conducts a physical exam of your feet and ankles, reviews your medical history, and asks you about your symptoms and goals for treatment.

After gathering this information, Dr. Nguyen develops a custom care plan. Usually, this involves lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and a healthy diet combined with diabetic shoes and/or multi-density inserts.

If you have slow-healing wounds or diabetic ulcers, Dr. Nguyen provides evidence-based limb salvage and wound care techniques that prevent the need for amputation.

If you have diabetes, it’s important to participate in a diabetic foot exam at least once every year. If you notice any foot-related problems associated with diabetes, such as a slow-healing wound, make an appointment with Dr. Nguyen right away.

To request your diabetic foot care appointment, call the office or click the online scheduling tool today.