Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes can cause severe nerve and vascular issues, often concentrated in the feet. At Advanced Foot & Ankle in Denton, Texas, experienced podiatrist Dr. Jaret Walker, DPM, is a diabetes expert with unique skills in the area of diabetic foot care. He treats diabetes complications in the feet effectively and tries to prevent them from progressing and causing more serious issues. Call the office or request an appointment online today.  

What is diabetic foot care?

Diabetic foot care is medical care to help you manage diabetes and its effects on your feet. At Advanced Foot & Ankle, Dr. Jaret Walker offers all-encompassing diabetic foot care for patients at risk for the disease and those who already have it. 

What effects does diabetes have on the feet? 

Diabetes causes problems in the feet, including nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) and blood vessel problems (peripheral vascular disease). 

Peripheral vascular disease

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) involves the narrowing of the blood vessels that supply your feet, which robs your feet of the oxygen and nutrients they need to stay healthy. 

If you’re injured, a lack of blood supply can prevent healing and significantly increase your risk of foot ulcers and infections. 

Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) involves damage within the nerves that provide sensation to your feet. When you have peripheral neuropathy, you can experience symptoms such as burning, tingling, pins and needles, sharp, shooting, stabbing, and numbness. 

If you’re injured — even a tiny cut on the foot — neuropathy may prevent you from feeling and treating it. The injury can greatly worsen, resulting in foot ulcers that can’t heal properly.

Over time, people with diabetes may experience additional complications, like Charcot foot, in which the bones in the arch of the foot collapse. Eventually, people with diabetes can lose their toes, feet, or limbs due to complications of their disease. 

What does diabetic foot care include?

Advanced Foot & Ankle provides comprehensive diabetic foot care. Some examples of necessary treatments may include:

• Diabetic foot exams
• Neuropathy treatments like electrical stimulation (e-stim)
• Wound care
• Nail trimming
• Callus and corn debridement
• Diabetic shoes    

Dr. Jaret Walker is a go-to resource for any and all foot problems affecting people with diabetes. He always takes the most conservative approaches, exhausting nonsurgical treatments before recommending surgery. His goal is to help you have the healthiest feet and best mobility for your whole life. 

When do I need diabetic foot care?

Dr. Jaret Walker recommends a diabetic foot exam when you’re first diagnosed with diabetes. After that, he recommends a personalized diabetic foot care plan for you. 

If you need diabetic foot care, call Advanced Foot & Ankle or request an appointment online today.