Diabetic Foot Care
For patients living with diabetes, attentive foot care is essential to preventing serious complications. High blood sugar over time can damage nerves and circulation in the feet, allowing small problems to progress quickly into ulcers, infections, and in the most serious cases, amputation. At Cella Foot & Ankle Specialty, Dr. Cella provides comprehensive diabetic foot care to patients in Fair Lawn, NJ , focusing on early detection, wound prevention, and limb preservation to keep you safe, comfortable, and mobile.
Diabetic Foot Care
Ulcers on the foot may not always come with pain, but they are serious conditions that should be evaluated by a medical professional. Symptoms of ulcers may include drainage or red, inflamed tissue, and to properly diagnose and develop a treatment plan, X-rays may be ordered. Regular diabetic foot exams allow Dr. Cella to catch problems early, and protective diabetic shoes and inserts can reduce pressure and help prevent wounds from forming in the first place.
Amputation Prevention and Limb Salvage
Time is of the essence when trying to save a limb. Any time a patient has a sore or wound on the lower extremity, they should immediately seek intervention so the appropriate steps can be taken to prevent lower-extremity amputation. Patients with limb-threatening conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers, infections, and peripheral arterial disease should be particularly vigilant, as diabetic foot complications are among the most complex to treat and require great attention. Underlying conditions can complicate what seems like a simple wound on your foot or lower leg and quickly turn it into a significant problem. Many lower-limb amputations are caused by foot ulcers that result from complications of diabetes, including infections, poor circulation, neuropathy, Charcot foot, gangrene, or trauma, and sometimes it is as simple as blisters and sores from poorly fitting shoes. The longer an ulcer remains open and unhealed, the more likely it is to become infected, and foot ulcers complicated by infection are often what lead to amputation. The best approach for amputation prevention is to determine the underlying cause of the wound and establish an aggressive, comprehensive treatment plan to reduce healing time and improve healing rates. Depending on the type of wound, the treatment plan may include infection control, restoration of blood flow, debridement (removal of dead tissue), offloading, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, skin substitutes, compression therapy, foot reconstruction, and skin grafts or flaps. When amputation is unavoidable, we make every effort to salvage as much of the limb as possible. Our comprehensive wound care services are central to this effort.
Peripheral Neuropathy
As a result of damaged peripheral nerves, peripheral neuropathy can occur, causing symptoms such as weakness, numbness, burning, and tingling in the hands and feet as well as other parts of the body. Traumatic injuries, diabetes, and even some exposure to toxins can cause peripheral nerve damage. Once nerve damage occurs, the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are gradual and worsen with time, so it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to help prevent further damage to those nerves. Learn more about diagnosis and treatment on our dedicated neuropathy page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is foot care so important for people with diabetes?
Diabetes can damage the nerves and circulation in the feet, which means small injuries may go unnoticed and heal slowly. This makes people with diabetes far more vulnerable to ulcers, infections, and serious complications, so regular foot care and prompt attention to any wound are essential.
How often should a person with diabetes have their feet checked?
In addition to daily self-checks at home, most people with diabetes should have a professional foot exam at least once a year, and more often if they have neuropathy, poor circulation, a history of ulcers, or foot deformities. Dr. Cella will recommend the right schedule for you.
What are the warning signs of a diabetic foot ulcer?
Warning signs include drainage, redness, swelling, warmth, an open sore, or inflamed tissue, even without pain. Because ulcers are not always painful, any change should be evaluated promptly to prevent infection and more serious complications.
Can diabetic foot problems lead to amputation?
Unfortunately, yes. Many amputations begin as foot ulcers that become infected. The good news is that early intervention, proper wound care, and addressing the underlying cause dramatically improve healing and greatly reduce the risk of amputation.
What is peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage that causes numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness, most often in the feet and hands. In people with diabetes, it can reduce the ability to feel injuries, which is why protective footwear and regular exams are so important.
Can diabetic shoes and inserts really help?
Yes. Properly fitted diabetic shoes and custom inserts reduce pressure points, improve comfort, and help prevent the blisters and sores that can develop into ulcers. They are an important part of a complete diabetic foot care plan.
What should I do if I notice a sore on my foot?
Seek evaluation right away rather than waiting to see if it heals on its own. Prompt care allows Dr. Cella to identify the cause, treat any infection, and begin a plan to protect the limb, since early intervention is the key to preventing serious outcomes.