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The Importance of Proper Diabetic Wound Care

Keep your blood glucose under control and know how to properly care for your feet with diabetes.

When it comes to caring for patients with diabetes, the main goals of our Philadelphia podiatrists Dr. Robert Cohen and Dr. Ushma Sheth is to prevent foot problems from occurring in the first place while also providing comprehensive wound care to reduce the risk for complications.

Take Diabetic Wounds Seriously

Anyone with diabetes should know that cuts, blisters, open wounds, and other issues require immediate medical care to prevent complications. Even the smallest problems such as an ingrown toenail can lead to infection. Here are some of the reasons why people with diabetes experience delayed wound healing.

High Blood Glucose Levels

Diabetes occurs when the body does not know how to properly manage glucose, or blood sugar. If high blood glucose levels aren’t treated through lifestyle changes and medication this can cause the blood vessels to narrow, resulting in diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage, which greatly impacts wound healing in diabetic patients.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy or nerve damage is extremely common in diabetics. As many as 50 percent of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy, and more than 30 percent have autonomic neuropathy. High blood glucose damages nerves, which cause a loss of sensation in the feet and hands, making it difficult for patients to recognize open wounds, sores or ulcers when they develop. This is why it’s so important for all of our diabetic patients to perform daily self-exams of their feet to look for problems such as:

  • Blisters
  • Corns and calluses
  • Cuts, scrapes and sores
  • Redness or tenderness
  • Bunions
  • Ingrown toenails
  • Athlete’s foot or fungal infections

Even the smallest changes in the health of your feet could lead to more serious complications, so it’s important that you turn to our Philadelphia podiatrists for professional wound care at the first sign of a problem.

Circulation Issues

Since the blood vessels have narrowed due to high blood glucose levels this also decreases circulation within the feet. As a result, less oxygen and nutrients can get to the tissue within the feet to help heal and repair damaged tissue. With the decrease in circulation also comes a decrease in white blood cells, which are needed to help fight any infection that is present.

With offices in Paoli and Philadelphia, PA, Paoli and Center City FootCare Centers is your premiere practice for handling your foot and ankle problems. If you are dealing with diabetic foot problems our team can provide you with the immediate wound care you need. Call (610) 647-0400 for our Paoli office or (215) 545-0388 for our office in Philadelphia.


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