By Dr. Brian Fallon , DPM
Dr. Brian Fallon displayed, DPM
The high incidence of diabetic foot ulcers and potentially devastating consequences are well known in the medical community. Diabetic patients often develop peripheral neuropathy, a disease that causes decreased sensation in the foot. The decreased sensitivity of the foot may cause the patient to feel something seemingly innocent like a shoe that is too tight and rubbing an area. Diabetic foot ulcers usually occur in areas of high pressure when walking , often due to abnormal foot structure , such as a hammer or onion deformation. Many diabetics also suffer from poor circulation in the feet, which makes it difficult or impossible healing. When injuries become chronic , patients have an increased risk of infection. The infection is more difficult to treat diabetic patients due to the fact that your bodies immune system is not as effective in the fight against bacteria. Antibiotics are also typically used to fight against the infection are not as effective as if the blood flow to the area is poor. This unfortunately leads to amputation for some patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers .
The primary purpose of the podiatrist is the prevention of diabetic foot ulcers . Patient education and regular foot examination by a health professional are essential in the prevention of diabetic ulcers . Strict control of blood sugar levels and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise are essential to prevent complications of diabetes. Your health care provider may recommend testing the nerves and blood flow to the legs and feet for signs of neuropathy or poor circulation . This can provide valuable information and based on the results of these tests can make treatment recommendations to prevent these conditions worse . Diabetic patients should consult their podiatrist regularly for nail care and feet. Areas of the feet that are developed callus should shave down to reduce the risk of skin breakdown leading to the formation of ulcers. Diabetic shoes custom have proven to reduce the incidence of diabetic foot ulcers . The boots are constructed with a depth to accommodate additional personnel padding to reduce pressure points on the bottom of the foot . Diabetics should inspect their feet on a daily basis. Since diabetics are susceptible to very dry skin, a good moisturizer should be applied daily to reduce the risk of cracks in the skin . Areas around the toes should be thoroughly dried after showers or baths , and a drying agent such as Desenex powder can be applied to reduce the risk of developing fungal infections. Any break in the skin , redness , swelling or pain should trigger an immediate visit to the podiatrist. A situation that seems small can quickly become a big problem for diabetic patients.
The traditional initial treatment of diabetic foot ulcers is to reduce the risk of infection and stimulate the bodies healing process. The most important part of the processing is regular debriding of the ulcer. This involves the removal of all dead or callus tissue at the edges or at the base of the wound on her health professional . This procedure reduces the risk of infection and may assist in the healing rate . It is important that the affected feet as much as possible is maintained. Your podiatrist may make recommendations to reduce the pressure on the ulcerated , which will also help speed up the healing process. It could be filling the area with the use of special shoes or boot to download the ulcer site . If infection is suspected, a culture of the wound can be made and appropriate antibiotics may be prescribed. There are a variety of products for the wound care news as may be prescribed to help reduce the risk of infection and promote healing of diabetic foot ulcers . When these traditional techniques are ineffective wound care , other therapeutic options should be considered.
A new option for the treatment of chronic diabetic ulcers offers hope for many patients with chronic wounds that do not heal . This involves the use of a tissue allograft , a graft obtained from a human donor unbound . The graft is derived from the innermost layer of the human placenta and amniotic cavity coating a newborn . Mothers potential donors are examined and tested for infectious diseases and graft sterilized before implantation. This tissue is selected because it improves wound healing by providing a high concentration of growth factors are necessary for wound healing naturally occurring organisms . The fabric used in the graft has been shown to reduce inflammation and scarring of the region. The reduction in inflammation and wound healing has been shown to promote healing of chronic wounds . Preliminary studies show that the grafting has resulted in a greater likelihood of healing of chronic wounds and quicker healing of wounds. The graft can be applied frequently in the doctor's office and is a painless procedure that requires no anesthesia.
Although the techniques and technologies have improved in recent years , prevention remains the most effective in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers .
If you or a loved one is suffering from diabetic ulcers doctors and staff walking foot and ankle specialists of the Atlantic are ready to help you . http://www.atlanticfeet.com
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