Diabetic Foot Care Specialist

Dr. Anthony Spitz, DPM

Podiatrist & Ankle and Foot Surgeon located in Wheeling, IL

Dr. Anthony Spitz, DPM

Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes sufferers have a high risk of developing foot problems like ulcers, infections, calluses, and ingrown toenails. Every minute, three diabetes sufferers undergo amputations caused by foot or ankle complications. You can avoid amputations and other complications by seeking diabetic foot care at Foot Clinic in Wheeling, Illinois. Experienced diabetic foot expert Anthony Spitz, DPM, offers everything you need to avoid problems and stay healthy, so book an appointment online or by phone now.

Diabetic Foot Care Q & A

Diabetes damages your feet in a few ways, including:

Circulation problems

Diabetes often interferes with healthy circulation to your feet. Peripheral artery disease happens when the arteries leading from your heart to your limbs get clogged. This reduces the blood flow to your legs, and your feet are usually the first area to suffer the consequences.

Without healthy blood flow, your feet don't get the nutrients required for recovery. This can mean wounds are slow to heal, and nonhealing wounds are at-risk for ulceration and infection.

Nerve damage

Diabetes often causes peripheral neuropathy, which is nerve damage affecting the nerves leading to your legs and feet. This can cause numb feet, tingling, and other symptoms that can mask the pain of a foot injury.

That means you might not notice small injuries such as cuts or punctures for a long time. This could allow the injury to grow worse quickly, creating an ulcer, even as you continue walking normally.

When circulatory and nerve problems combine, your feet are highly vulnerable. Up to 34% of diabetes sufferers develop ulcerated foot wounds. Over half of all diabetic foot ulcers get infected — and 20% of those infected ulcers lead to amputation. With regular diabetic foot care, you never have to face these problems.

Examine your feet at home daily, checking them from all angles and using a mirror as needed. If you notice changes, like a new cut or wound, watch it closely for a couple of days and call Foot Clinic if it doesn't heal.

If a foot wound has signs of infection like redness, puffiness, feeling hot, or discharge, call Foot Clinic for guidance right away.

The American Diabetes Association also advises all diabetes patients to have professional foot exams once a year. As part of a professional checkup, Dr. Spitz can diagnose emerging issues and help you manage ongoing problems to prevent long-term damage.

Dr. Spitz treats wounds, including ulcers and infected ulcers, in the earliest stage possible to prevent permanent damage and amputation.

Trophic ulcers are skin defects that appear on the foot or lower leg due to insufficient circulation, such as if you have varicose veins or peripheral artery disease. They don’t heal on their own and can grow larger if they’re untreated.

These ulcers are commonly caused by nerve damage, high blood sugar, or poor circulation. Nerve damage may lead to the loss of feeling in your feet, while poor blood flow to your feet can make it difficult for ulcers to heal. High glucose levels often slow the healing process of an infected foot ulcer.

Wound care for trophic ulcerations often involves antibiotics, and Dr. Spitz may need to clean and remove the dead tissue, a process known as debridement. To prevent trophic ulcers in the future, he may suggest steps you can take at home, such as maintaining good foot hygiene, staying physically active, and checking your feet and legs often.

If you're dealing with gait abnormalities that pressure delicate parts of your foot, or if you've got slow-healing wounds, custom orthotics and prescription diabetic shoes can help correct movement while protecting your feet.

Protect your feet with top-notch diabetic foot care by calling Foot Clinic or booking online today.

(847) 465-9311

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