How do you get a foot ulcer?
Surprisingly, the most common cause of ulcers in people with diabetes is constant pressure and rubbing, usually from ill-fitting footwear. Diabetics are more prone to develop wounds that don’t heal easily due to:
- Nerve damage or neuropathy – Those with nerve problems can develop a blister or a tiny wound and oftentimes not even notice that it is there.
- Problems with circulation – This results to reduced oxygen supply to the feet and therefore have difficulty with wound healing.
- Foot deformities such as toes becoming crooked or collapse of the arch.
To prevent foot ulcers, make sure that your shoes fit well. Prescription shoes or custom orthotics have the advantage of relieving areas of increased pressure, stabilizing foot deformities, and provide stability.
For socks, the best option is wearing white ones, typically cotton to easily detect any seepage or blood in from the feet. If you have corns and calluses, see your podiatrist and resist the urge to file or treat it yourself. This can lead to injury and potential problems in the future.
If you have diabetes, it is recommended to use footwear both indoors and outdoors. Use stockings or socks to protect your feet. Change into clean socks on a daily basis. Cut your toenails regularly, resist the urge to manipulate your nails.
Wash your feet thoroughly, preferably mild antibacterial soap and dry thoroughly especially in spaces between the toes. Moisturizing the feet is very important, especially during the winter to keep the skin from cracking. Do not apply lotion between the toes.
Inspect your feet daily. It is best to have someone inspect it for you. If you must do it yourself, use a mirror to be sure to see every part of the soles, heels, and toes.
Go to a podiatrist or a foot doctor at least once or twice a year, whether or not you think you have a foot issue. A comprehensive foot examination will determine the risk factors that may result in foot ulcers or worse, consequent foot amputation.
If you develop a foot wound, have it checked immediately. Call your podiatrist to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
For more information on diabetic foot ulcers, you may contact Dr. Kevin Lam’s office at (239) 430-3668 (FOOT) or visit NaplesPodiatrist.com
Family Foot and Leg Center has several Centers from Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Florida to quickly resolve all your foot and ankle problems.
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At FFLC, we use advanced wound healing technologies to help keep patients out of the hospital and onto healing.
- Faster recovery time
- Better results
- Improved long-term outlook
- Optimal quality of life
Wound Care – what Podiatrists do to save your feet.
**There are approximately 29 million people with diabetes in the US and it is estimated that 25% people over the age of 65 have diabetes. Over the next 20 years, it is expected that this problem is only going to get worse.
When peripheral neuropathy develops, the incidence of ulcer formation increases.
The 3-year mortality for people with diabetes increases from 13% to 28% with an ulcer. Following a lower extremity amputation, the 5-year mortality increases to 60%.
Diabetic foot ulcers lead to amputation and mortality, and thus, it is very important to prevent them. At Family Foot and Leg Center, we offer advanced wound care for your feet and legs. Our doctors are well trained from residency in conservative and advanced wound care options from simple debridement to advance grafting and flap techniques.
(DFUs) continue to be a major problem globally. Through the years, these continue to be among the most challenging chronic wound types. There is also a high chance of recurrence among DFUs.
Patients with diabetes are at increased risk for limb loss and associated mortality. Because of diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage in the legs and feet, patients don’t feel what’s going on in the bottom of the foot.
Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur if you have diabetes. High blood sugar (glucose) can injure nerves throughout your body. Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in your legs and feet.
Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers
- Offloading – taking away the pressure by putting pads around the area; surgical options
- Antibiotics to control infections
- Wound care – cleaning out the dead tissue to allow the wound to heal
- Restoration of blood circulation for PAD (peripheral artery disease) – along with vascular specialists
- Administration of activated collagen
- Skin flaps, skin grafts, and/or skin substitutes with growth factors to help in healing
- Tendo-Achilles lengthening
- Advise patient on proper shoe wear, inspection of feet everyday, medical management of diabetes, proper nutrition
- Follow-up with a podiatrist at least every 6 months, sooner if you have pre-ulcerative lesions on your feet / lower extremities
Foot and Ankle Surgeon Saves Foot from Amputation
Advanced wound care is a patient-centered and a multidisciplinary approach between podiatrist, vascular surgeon, and primary care doctor. At FFLC, we specialize in the treatment of wounds that are difficult to heal. We offer the most current and advanced treatments in wound care.
We use in-office advanced wound healing products from Organogenesis such as
PuraPly AM is intended for the management of wounds and as an effective barrier to resist microbial colonization within the ECM and reduce microbes penetrating through the ECM.
PuraPly® is an FDA 510(k)-cleared Class II medical device that is indicated for the management of wounds including: partial- and full-thickness wounds, venous, diabetic, chronic vascular, and pressure ulcers, tunneled/undermined, surgical, trauma, and draining wounds.
Affinity is an aseptically processed, hypothermically stored fresh allograft with viable cells, growth factors/cytokines, and extracellular matrix (ECM).
Apligraf is an FDA-approved, bioengineered living cell therapy indicated for the healing of venous leg ulcers (VLUs) and diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).
Dermagraft® is an FDA-approved, bioengineered human dermal substitute indicated for the healing of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).
to help you heal faster without the need of going to a hospital where risk of catching MRSA and COVID -19 may be higher. If a hospital or facility surgery is necessary we offer ultrasound debridement, split thickness grafting, full thickness grafting, muscle and vascular flap techniques. Our doctors are the cutting edge of wound healing by the most advanced means available.
See why we are the first choice for limb salvage in Florida
and the best wound care specialist
near you from Naples, FL to Sarasota, FL.
If you have a foot, ankle, leg, knee wound, do not delay.
See us at any of our locations throughout Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Sarasota, FL.
Your wound healing experts.
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Serving Southwest Florida Since 2005, Family Foot & Leg Center has 9 convenient locations throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties. Offering pediatric to geriatric family care: Ingrown Toenails, Heel Pain, Bunions, Foot / Ankle Arthritis Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Foot / Ankle Surgery, Custom Orthotics, and Diabetic Wound Care. In office X-rays, ultrasounds, and minor surgical suite exam rooms. Practice powered by EMR and advanced technologies. Home of the Lam Minimal Invasive No-Scar Bunion Surgery! Come Discover Why Patients Love Our 5-Star Foot & Ankle Care! Same Day Appointments! Easy Online Appointment Scheduling!
