Preventing Diabetic Foot Infections: Tips for Wound Care

Diabetic Foot Care

You have diabetes and have been having issues with your feet. Maybe you have neuropathy and difficulty feeling things, or you bumped your foot on something. Now, you have a small wound that is forming, but you don't know what to do. Dr. Brandon James and Dr. Sarah James of Foot & Ankle Surgery of New Braunfels in New Braunfels, TX, are trained in diabetic foot care and await your visit to answer questions and develop a treatment plan to keep your feet healthy.

Diabetes And Your Feet

When you are diabetic, you have to take greater care of your feet than a person without diabetes. If you are diabetic, you are more apt to have some form of neuropathy or nerve damage that causes you to not be able to feel a small injury to your foot. Diabetics typically heal slower than non-diabetics. Proper foot care is a must. Listed below are tips that can be used in your foot care routine.

• Check your feet daily with a mirror for minor cuts, bruises, or slivers, especially if you have neuropathy.
• After your shower, please dry your feet properly, including the spaces between your toes. Water left behind can cause sores.
• According to Foot & Ankle Surgery of New Braunfels in New Braunfels, TX, part of diabetic foot care means buying the correct socks for your feet. You want socks that fit and support your feet without pinching or squeezing.
• Wear only your shoes with socks. Your socks are made to cushion and protect your foot if something gets stuck in your shoe.
• When you buy footwear, ensure your shoes fit properly and conform well to your foot.
• Provide proper scheduled care for your nails and surrounding skin. Keep nails trimmed short with no sign of hangnails. If you have a hangnail you don't think you can care for, it's best to see our professionals for care.
• Schedule routine visits with our foot care specialists for foot checks. Our doctors will check the nails and skin on your feet to ensure no sore areas.

Foot care does not have to be a significant chore if you have diabetes. Following these simple tips and ensuring your whole care team is on the same page regarding foot care, you can keep your feet healthy without significant complications, such as amputation.

Schedule Your Visit Today!

If you need specialized diabetic foot care, call our Dr. Brandon and Dr. Sarah at (830) 387-4427 at Foot & Ankle Surgery in New Braunfels, TX. Our doctors await your appointment for a diabetic foot consultation to discuss specialized foot care.