Diabetic Foot Care in Los Angeles

Common diabetic foot symptoms include:

• Non-healing wounds: Minor cuts, blisters, or burns that heal slowly or become infected.
• Dry, cracked skin: These cracks can quickly become infected.
• Corns and calluses: Thickened skin areas prone to ulceration.
• Fungal infections: Athlete’s foot and toenail fungus thrive when circulation is compromised.
• Ingrown toenails: Can rapidly lead to infections, especially if unnoticed due to reduced sensation.
• Foot deformities: Conditions like hammertoes or bunions create pressure points and can lead to ulcers.

If you have diabetes, regularly check your feet and promptly see your doctor if you notice any of the above diabetic foot symptoms.

Several underlying issues can cause diabetic foot, including:

• Diabetic Neuropathy: Prolonged high blood sugar levels can damage nerves, particularly those in your feet. This damage reduces sensation, delaying detection of injuries and wounds.
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Diabetes can narrow or block blood vessels, severely restricting blood flow to your feet and legs. Reduced circulation slows wound healing and increases infection risk.
• Weakened immune system: Diabetes impairs your body’s ability to fight infections.
• High blood sugar levels: Persistent hyperglycemia directly hinders healing and can cause tissue inflammation.
• Structural foot issues: Deformities such as bunions or hammertoes increase pressure points and friction, contributing to ulcer formation.
• Poor footwear and inadequate foot care: Wearing ill-fitting shoes, walking barefoot, and not maintaining good foot hygiene can cause or exacerbate foot problems.

About 15% of individuals with diabetes develop diabetic foot ulcers—open sores commonly occurring in areas of repeated friction or pressure. Because neuropathy limits sensation, these ulcers often go unnoticed. With PAD limiting blood flow, healing becomes more challenging, increasing infection risks. Prompt medical attention is essential to prevent severe complications, including amputation.

Diabetic foot gangrene occurs when tissue dies due to a lack of blood flow, typically resulting from PAD and severe infections. It is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. Symptoms include discolored (purple, greenish-black) skin, severe pain or numbness, swelling, cold skin, or foul-smelling discharge, fever, chills, and rapid heartbeat.

Diabetic charcot foot is a rare but serious complication of diabetic neuropathy. It causes weakening and eventual collapse of foot bones and joints, potentially resulting in permanent deformities. Early signs include swelling, redness, warmth, and pain.

Diagnosis of diabetic foot should focus on immediate symptoms and contributing conditions to guide effective treatment, including peripheral artery disease and diabetic neuropathy. To accurately diagnose your condition, a healthcare provider will typically:

• Review your diabetes history and current management practices.
• Conduct a thorough physical examination of your feet, checking for wounds, ulcers, or deformities.
• Perform sensation tests to determine if neuropathy is present.
• Evaluate your circulation, possibly through tests like pulse checks or specialized imaging (such as ultrasound or Doppler studies).
• Order additional imaging (X-rays, MRI) or lab tests to identify deeper infections or structural issues if needed.

Early intervention significantly reduces the risk of severe diabetic foot complications. Treatment depends on the specific foot condition and its severity, often requiring the involvement of a foot specialist (podiatrist), wound care specialist, and/or vascular specialist. Treatment should focus on diabetes, foot care, and contributing conditions like peripheral artery disease and diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic foot treatment options include:

• Diabetes management: Controlling blood sugar levels through medications, diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
• Wound care: Cleaning wounds, draining infections, removing dead tissue (debridement), and applying specialized dressings.
• Medication: Antibiotics (oral or IV) to manage infections.
• Offloading: Reducing pressure on affected areas through customized footwear, crutches, or orthotics.
• Arterial Revascularization: Minimally invasive vascular procedure to open up blocked arteries and restore blood flow to the feet.
• Spinal Cord Stimulation: Implant device that provides pain relief by interrupting pain signals that travel through the spine.
• Surgery: In severe cases, procedures including debridement, reconstructive surgery, or even amputation may be required to prevent the spread of infection.

To minimize your risk of diabetes-related foot complications, incorporate these essential foot-care habits into your daily routine:

• Inspect your feet daily: Check for cuts, sores, redness, swelling, or unusual changes.
• Proper hygiene: Wash your feet daily in lukewarm water, dry thoroughly, and apply moisturizer (avoiding spaces between toes).
• Footwear choices: Wear comfortable shoes and specialized diabetic socks; always check shoes for foreign objects before putting them on.
• Protect your feet: Avoid walking barefoot, even at home, and protect your feet from extreme temperatures.
• Maintain optimal blood sugar levels: Good diabetes management is key to preventing neuropathy and PAD.
• Quit smoking: Smoking significantly impairs circulation and worsens PAD.
• Regular professional care: Schedule routine visits with healthcare providers specializing in diabetic foot care to catch issues early. See ProVascularMD for diabetic foot care in Los Angeles.