How Does A Podiatrist Treat A Diabetic Foot Ulcer?

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If you have diabetes, you need to check your feet each day for signs that you're developing a diabetic ulcer; one sign would be the skin on your feet appearing red and inflamed. Checking your feet is especially important if you have diabetic neuropathy, which is a form of nerve damage that can greatly reduce your ability to feel pain. If you notice that you're developing an ulcer on your foot, you'll need to seek treatment from a podiatrist to prevent it from becoming severely infected. To learn how a podiatrist treats diabetic foot ulcers, read on.

Debriding the Wound Surgically

Surgical debridement is one of the most important components of wound care because it reduces the risk of infection and helps tissue heal more quickly. Debridement refers to removing dead tissue around the ulcer. The dead tissue won't come back, so all it does is provide food for bacteria that can cause a serious infection. Removing all of the dead tissue provides room for the growth of new, healthy tissue to replace it. Each time you visit your podiatrist for diabetic wound care, they'll examine your ulcer and surgically debride it to aid in healing.

Dressing the Wound

When you visit your podiatrist, your diabetic ulcer will be wrapped in a wound dressing. A wound dressing keeps bacteria away from the wound, reducing the chance that it will become infected. Dressings also help keep moisture in, providing a good environment for your cells to replicate quickly and heal the wound. Your wound dressing will be changed every time you visit the podiatrist while your ulcer is healing, which also gives your podiatrist the chance to see how the healing is progressing.

Keeping Pressure Off the Ulcer While It Heals

Diabetic ulcers are commonly caused by excess pressure on one area of your foot. The pressure causes tissue to break down, resulting in an ulcer. It's important to avoid placing any pressure on the ulcer while it's healing since it can damage the newly grown tissue and reverse the progress your body has made trying to heal it. Your podiatrist will recommend a method of keeping pressure off of the ulcer, such as wearing a half-shoe or using a walker. These methods shift weight away from your ulcer, letting it heal properly.

If you notice a diabetic ulcer on your foot, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist as soon as you can. It's very important to treat ulcers before a serious infection develops. Bacteria infecting the ulcer can spread outwards into nearby bones or blood vessels, causing serious health problems. Prompt diabetic wound care will reduce the risk that you'll develop a severe infection as a result of your diabetic ulcer.

Contact a local podiatrist to learn more about treating diabetic foot ulcers

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27 March 2023

Learning About Important Podiatrist Services

Hello, my name is Vicki Sutherland. Welcome to my site about podiatrist services. As I reached old age, I took a good hard look at the condition of my feet. For so long, I ignored the pain and discomfort that resulted from constantly wearing shoes suited for the workplace. Those shoes put unnecessary pressure on my toes and heels, resulting in a number of damaged sections. Eventually, I decided to go into the podiatrist for treatment. The treatment restored my feet and eliminated the bulk of the discomfort. I would like to talk about all of the diagnostic procedures and treatments provided by the podiatrist. I hope you can use the information I provide to heal your feet as well. Thanks.