Diabetic Foot Care

More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, which raises their risk of foot wounds. At United Wound Care Centers of Illinois in Aurora, Illinois, skilled nurse practitioners John Konopelski, C-APN, DNP, and Gladys Odoi, APRN, FNP-BC, MSN, along with their team, offer comprehensive diabetic foot care to maximize healing, eliminate pain, and reduce your risk of wound-related complications. Schedule an in-office or home-based wound care evaluation by phone or request one online today.

What is diabetic foot care?

Diabetic foot care at United Wound Care Centers of Illinois involves treating chronic (nonhealing) wounds caused by diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of foot problems linked to poor circulation and/or diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). Seeking early treatment for diabetic foot wounds reduces your chance of an infection and other complications.

Which conditions does diabetic foot care treat?

Diabetic foot care at United Wound Care Centers of Illinois helps treat the following conditions and more:

• Chronic wounds
• Infections
• Reduced blood flow
• Foot pain
• Ulcers
• Slowed healing wounds
• Ingrown toenails
• Bleeding
• Foul-smelling wounds
• Pus or drainage
• Gangrene (tissue death caused by a severe infection)
• Wounds caused by Charcot foot (neuropathy-related complication)

About 15% of people with diabetes develop toe or foot ulcers, which often appear in areas that press or rub against shoes or other surfaces.

What are the risk factors for diabetic foot problems?

Diabetic foot concerns often stem from diabetes-related nerve damage. Risk factors include uncontrolled blood sugar, an unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and poor overall diabetes management.

People with diabetes are more likely to develop peripheral artery disease (PAD), which can also negatively affect blood flow to their lower limbs and delay wound healing.

Am I a candidate for diabetic foot care?

If you have foot ulcers or other foot concerns linked to diabetes, see the experts at United Wound Care Centers of Illinois for an evaluation and treatment. They discuss your medical history and symptoms, examine your feet, and might suggest a biopsy or imaging procedures like X-rays or an MRI.

What does diabetic foot care consist of?

Your personalized diabetic foot care treatment plan can include:

• Wound cleaning
• Drainage
• Off-loading
• Debridement
• Dressings
• Bandaging
• Diabetic shoes
• Negative pressure wound therapy
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Skin grafting
• Oral medication
• Topical medicine
• Compression stockings or bandages
• Growth factor therapy
• Stem cell therapy
• Ultrasound therapy
• Electromagnetic therapy
• Surgery
• Complex wound care

Preventive measures include checking your blood sugar regularly, maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and checking your feet for early signs of foot wounds. Keep your toenails filed and trimmed straight across, protect your feet by not walking barefoot, and wear comfortable shoes. It’s also essential that you avoid smoking.

Schedule an in-office or home-based diabetic foot care evaluation at United Wound Care Centers of Illinois by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.