Diabetic Care Specialist

Why do I need diabetic care for my feet?

Diabetes is a chronic disorder that can lead to the development of non-healing wounds. These wounds can become infected, and, without the right care, result in the loss of your foot or leg.

Your primary care provider and diabetic specialist monitor your health when you have diabetes and help you find the most effective ways to regulate your blood sugar.

If your blood sugar regulation is poor, you're more likely to develop complications. Even when you have your diabetes under control, foot problems can still arise. Diabetic foot care is, therefore, a vital part of your ongoing diabetic management plan, and Collier Podiatry specializes in it.

What foot conditions does diabetes cause?

Diabetes can cause numerous problems with your feet. These include:

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

This is a condition where shrinking blood vessels damage the nerves in your feet. The result is unpleasant feelings like prickling and burning, pain, and loss of sensation. If you lose the feeling in your feet, you might not realize you have an injury, increasing the risk of infection.

Venous stasis

This is a term for poor circulation in your legs, which could be due to weak valves in the veins or sluggish blood flow.

Skin changes

Long-term damage from poor circulation can cause changes that weaken the skin and tissues. The skin can easily break, forming a slow-healing wound or ulcer.

Ulcers

Ulcers are deep, painful open wounds that are resistant to healing. Severely infected ulcers can lead to amputation in some cases.

At Collier Podiatry, Dr. Petrocelli has many years of experience in dealing with problems like these. It's a good idea to see him at least once a year for a diabetic foot exam or more frequently if you already have diabetic foot problems.

Regular diabetic foot exams help to prevent any budding issues from getting worse and causing more serious problems.

What does diabetic care involve?

You can do a great deal for yourself in terms of diabetic care, including:

• Staying active
• Wearing clean socks and shoes
• Checking your feet daily
• Using appropriate skin care products
• Keeping your toenails trimmed
• Maintaining blood flow to your feet
• Protecting your feet from excessive temperatures

If you notice a cut or bruise on your feet and lower legs, or changes in the appearance of your skin, you should contact Dr. Petrocelli for advice.

Collier Podiatry provides expert services to treat foot problems like corns and calluses, toenail fungus, ingrown toenails, and other problems that can make you more vulnerable to infection. They also offer foot pampering treatments to keep your feet in the best possible condition.

Call Collier Podiatry to find out more about its diabetic care services.