If you suffer from diabetes, caring for foot wounds is very important as they are most successful and less invasively treated when caught early. Diabetes itself can make this difficult so regularly examining your feet for injuries can itself be considered a key aspect of care. Learn more about how to care for and how to prevent foot wounds by reaching out to your local podiatrists in N. Richland Hills, Fort Worth, and Denton, TX, Dr. Steven Lund and Dr. Leslie Rousseau of Metroplex Foot and Ankle Center.
Foot Wounds and Diabetic Ulcers
A foot wound can be caused by injuries or even friction and they occur when the skin is breached. These can become diabetic ulcers as they struggle to heal.
Diabetes affects various major systems of your body, all of which contribute to and exacerbate ulcers.
Your feet, being furthest from your heart, coupled with poor circulation can make healing difficult. So can high glucose levels.
Because your nervous system is also affected, you may not even feel the ulcer developing.
Prevention
The first step in treating a diabetic ulcer or foot wound is to spot the injury, and this requires regular examinations.
You can use a hand mirror to look for any visible signs of an ulcer. While you may not always see an injury, you should keep an eye for signs of redness or swelling. If you notice a black patch of skin that's a likely serious ulcer.
Also, examine your socks for the presence of discharge. Ulcers are sometimes difficult to spot until they become infected, making pain a symptom you cannot ignore. But as mentioned above you may not even feel it at this stage, it's why regular visits with your podiatrist are crucial, especially if you suffer from diabetes.
Foot Wound Care in N. Richland Hills, Fort Worth, and Denton, TX
Examining your feet on your own is essential but so are the visits with your podiatrist. They will examine your feet for the above signs and are better suited at diagnosing signs of trouble.
If you notice a foot wound yourself the best thing to do is to protect it, keep it clean, and keep pressure off of it until you can see your doctor.
Your doctor can gently remove any dead tissue, apply topical medication and prescribe antibiotics to improve healing. They can also provide you with custom orthotics, or perhaps a cast or a brace, to help you ease the pressure on the injured foot. Only in cases of a very severe foot wound could surgery be necessary.
Schedule a consultation today if you need help caring for foot wounds in N. Richland Hills, Fort Worth, and Denton, TX, with Dr. Lund and Dr. Rousseau of Metroplex Foot and Ankle Center. Dial (817) 595-1310 to reach the Alliance, Ft. Worth, and North Hills offices, and (940) 323-2225 for Denton.