As of 2019, 37.3 million Americans suffered from diabetes, making it one of the most common —yet deadliest—health conditions affecting our population. Diabetes is a chronic condition resulting from dysfunction in the pancreas, which fails to produce sufficient insulin.
This leads to unregulated, typically high blood sugar levels, which come with a wide range of complications and health concerns. Among them is a condition known as diabetic foot, and we’ll talk in more depth here about it and its management at our hospital for special surgery.
Many patients suffering from diabetes tend to develop foot problems as a result of nerve damage from high blood sugar. Many different issues affect the feet as a result, including diabetic neuropathy, which causes numbness and tingling, poor blood circulation in the foot, severe infections, and more.
In many cases, the combination of poor blood flow and numbness and delayed healing from high blood sugar results in ulcers, injuries, nicks, and cuts that can fester and worsen. Many patients go on to develop gangrene, which may require partial or complete amputation in severe cases.
Fortunately, however, diabetic foot is highly treatable with early intervention, and timely medical care may help minimize the risk of amputation too. Your podiatrist will make personalized evaluations and recommendations for diabetic foot treatment, including focusing on repairing broken skin and exposed blood vessels, lowering blood sugar levels, and helping you regain sensation in your foot. Treatments vary on a case-by-case basis but often include foot care such as callus removal and nail trimming, monitoring foot health, and recommendations for footwear and improving circulation.
Diabetic foot treatments are not quick fixes by any means; lifestyle modifications and general treatment will be required to get your blood sugar levels in check.
At TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital, you’ll find podiatrists who specialize in diabetic foot treatments, helping patients heal and manage their conditions effectively. They may use a combination of medical and surgical interventions or refer you to an orthopedic foot specialist.
If you suffer from diabetic foot, you can find the right podiatrist or orthopedic foot specialist near you here and make your appointment directly with their office. You can also learn more about our hospital for special surgery by reaching out to us directly.
Phone: (281) 539-2900
Fax: (281) 715-4525
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