Diabetic Foot Care
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TRU Foot and Ankle
Jason Khadavi, DPM
Clinical Medicine and Podiatry Surgery & Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon located in Encino, CA & Beverly Hills, CA
As many as 60 million adults worldwide lose a foot or entire leg because of diabetes complications every year. Diabetes-related amputations are preventable when you manage your disease properly and get diabetic foot care at TRU Foot and Ankle regularly. Jason Khadavi, DPM, an experienced podiatrist, offers diagnosis, management, and specialized treatment for foot problems and complications caused by diabetes. There are two Los Angeles area locations in Beverly Hills and Encino, California, so book your appointment online or by phone today.
Diabetic Foot Care Q & A
How can diabetes damage my feet?
The main two forms of diabetic foot disease are:
Peripheral diabetic neuropathy
Peripheral diabetic neuropathy is damage affecting your lower-extremity nerves. Up to 70% of diabetes sufferers have nerve damage.
With nerve damage in your feet, you often lose sensation. You might not feel pain or extreme temperatures, which means cuts can go unnoticed and eventually turn into open wounds that are prone to infection. Neuropathy can also cause a tingling or burning sensation.
Peripheral vascular disease
Diabetes slows down your blood flow, especially to the distant areas like your feet. This means that healing takes longer when you have any kind of wound on your feet. Serious wounds might not heal at all, eventually leading to gangrene (tissue death).
When you have diabetes, you're more likely to develop foot problems like nail fungus, foot fungus (athlete's foot), ingrown toenails, corns, and calluses.
Nerve and vascular damage can also contribute to muscle weakening and foot imbalances, which means that diabetes sufferers are more likely to develop foot deformities like bunions and hammertoe.
What are the symptoms of diabetic foot problems?
Diabetic foot problems can present in many different ways, but some of the common symptoms to watch out for include:
- Cold feet
- Numb feet
- Tingling feet
- Foot, ankle, or lower leg swelling
- Slow-healing cuts or wounds
- Wounds that turn red and feel warm
- Darkened skin
- Cracked skin between toes or on your heels
Perform a self-check every day. If you observe any of these symptoms, call TRU Foot and Ankle to arrange an appointment with Dr. Khadavi as soon as possible.
How often do I need diabetic foot care?
Schedule a diabetic foot care checkup with Dr. Khadavi every six months. If you encounter new foot and ankle issues, book an appointment to take care of them right away.
Foot problems can quickly snowball and become serious when you have the healing challenges associated with diabetes, so taking action now can help you avoid foot or limb loss later.
Dr. Khadavi can help you protect your feet with prescription diabetic shoes, custom orthotics, and other preventive measures. If you have foot wounds, Dr. Khadavi performs wound healing using the latest medical field innovations, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cells.
If you need help for any type of foot problem, Dr. Khadavi offers both nonoperative and surgical care, according to your needs. His goal is to provide the fastest possible healing and return to normal.
If you have diabetes, you owe it to your feet to see a leading specialist like Dr. Khadavi at TRU Foot and Ankle. Book an appointment online or call the office nearest you today.