What is diabetic wound care?
Diabetes is a chronic condition in which your body doesn’t properly control blood sugar. Uncontrolled diabetes increases your risk of foot and leg ulcers, lacerations, punctures, and other wounds that are either slow to heal or don’t heal on their own at all.
Aside from diabetes, there are many medical conditions that predisposes people to developing wounds or ulcers. The doctors here make sure to evaluate your entire medical history in order to fully understand your condition.
Diabetic wound care at Albuquerque Associated Podiatrists enhances healing so you can avoid amputation and other serious complications. Your podiatrist offers several wound care treatments, and at least one of which can fit your personal needs.
Wound care here in our office typically involves a full evaluation, including medical and biomechanical. In the same appointment you can expect to be offered immediate treatments including offloading, debridement, and dressing changes.
How are foot wounds diagnosed?
To determine which wound care treatment is right for you, your podiatrist reviews your symptoms and medical history. They examine your feet and toes and can use CT scans, MRIs, and/or X-rays to determine the type and severity of a wound and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Which wound care treatments are available?
Albuquerque Associated Podiatrists providers will recommend one or more of the following diabetic wound care options:
Debridement
During debridement, your podiatrist removes unhealthy and/or damaged tissue to allow a diabetic foot wound to heal properly.
Medications
Taking oral antibiotics, antiplatelet medicines, or anti-clotting medications helps eliminate infection or prevents blood clots.
Topical treatments
Applying topical medications to a wound can speed up healing and prevent the infections that can be caused by wounds that won’t heal.
Dressings
Your foot specialist can apply special moist, composite, synthetic skin, hydrogel, alginate, collagen, or antimicrobial dressings to your wound to promote healing.
Orthotics
Wearing custom orthotics (shoe inserts) helps foot wounds heal and can prevent sores from forming. Your doctor can also write a prescription for diabetic shoes.
How should I care for foot wounds at home?
Follow your doctor’s at-home wound care instructions to make sure your foot wounds heal properly. Keep the wound dry and clean, and change dressings as directed by your podiatrist. Take medications as prescribed, drink a lot of fluids, and eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
If you are worried about it being infected or dirty, we recommend cleaning it with soap and warm water. Then apply betadine on the wound, and cover with gauze. You can purchase these items over-the-counter at any local pharmacy. This will keep your wound clean until it can be seen by your podiatrist.
Don’t let a severe or nonhealing diabetic foot wound lead to serious complications. Schedule a wound care appointment with Albuquerque Associated Podiatrists by phone or online today.
