One of the most important services we provide for our patients is assistance with diabetic foot care. Individuals who live with diabetes need to give heightened attention to their feet, especially on account of the neuropathy and circulation issues that accompany the disease. These can potentially create situations that become very serious, including those that necessitate limb amputation. We don’t ever want to see that for anyone, so you need to know the signs of infection in order to get the help you need as soon as possible.
Neuropathy is a form of nerve damage frequently experienced by diabetic individuals. This impairs the body’s ability to send and receive signals through the nervous system, which is necessary for alerting the brain to major issues. When an individual who has diabetes cannot feel symptoms that often accompany infection, like warmth or pain, he or she might not know it needs to be treated. The situation snowballs downhill as the infection worsens.
Given that a diabetic individual may not be able to feel a threatening infection, it is important to know the signs of infection, which include:
- Swelling and redness.
- Red streaks extending from an affected area.
- Drainage or pus.
As soon as you observe any of these signs, seek immediate help at the nearest emergency room.
If you have diabetes, you should have a diabetic foot care plan in place. A key pillar of this plan needs to be a daily foot inspection. Checking your feet every night before going to bed will help you recognize issues like infection or other potential threats to your health. Another pillar is protecting your feet. Practicing smart protection methods, like always inspecting the insides of shoes and socks before putting them on, will decrease your risk of sustaining a cut, scrape or abrasion that could become infected.
Whether you need treatment for a potentially serious diabetic foot care issue, or you need to set up your plan to stay safe, Foot Specialists of Long Island is here to help. Contact our Long Island, NY office today by calling (516) 804-9038 or use our online form and schedule your appointment.