Diabetic Wound Care

If you have diabetes, you’re also more likely to need diabetic wound care. At High Desert Limb Salvage Institute in San Bernardino, Indio, and Apple Valley, California, wound care specialist Norris Morrison, DPM, offers a full suite of diabetic wound care services, including wound drainage, wound debridement, and infection prevention. Call High Desert Limb Salvage Institute and make an appointment or book online today.

What is diabetic wound care?

Diabetic wound care is a podiatry subspecialty that diagnoses and treats diabetic ulcers, arterial ulcers, and other slow-healing wounds. 

If you have diabetes, you’re also more likely to experience health problems like peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) and poor circulation. If the nerves in your feet don’t work normally, you might cut your toe or step on a sharp object and not realize it. If you have poor circulation, that wound might become infected, increasing your risk of gangrene or amputation.

Diabetic wound care works to prevent any of these issues from happening through a combination of routine checkups and preventive care.

What happens during a diabetic wound care visit?

At High Desert Limb Salvage Institute, a diabetic wound care visit begins with a discussion of your lifestyle and how well you manage your diabetes. Let your provider know if you take any prescription medication, such as insulin, and if you have any other medical issues.

Next, your provider looks at your feet, toes, and ankles. They check the size, shape, color, and appearance of the diabetic wound and gently press on the surrounding skin to identify sensitive areas. Your provider also orders diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays or an MRI to see how far the infection extends beneath your skin.

How are diabetic wounds treated?

Treatment of diabetic wounds depends on various factors, including your age, the severity of your wound, and if it’s infected. Your High Desert Limb Salvage Institute provider might recommend:

• Cleaning the wound
• Draining the wound of fluid or pus
• Removing dead or infected tissue (wound debridement)
• Applying special bandages or ointments to encourage healing
• Prescribing a wheelchair or crutches (offloading)
• Prescribing antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection

Often, diabetic wound care involves a combination of two or more treatments. Follow your provider’s instructions carefully and attend each of your follow-up appointments as scheduled.

How can I reduce my risk of diabetes-related foot problems?

There’s no way to prevent diabetes-related foot problems entirely, but you can reduce your risk by keeping your blood sugar levels in check. High Desert Limb Salvage Institute recommends checking your feet every day for changes, visiting the office at least once a year for a routine podiatry exam, and wearing socks and shoes at all times.

To learn more about diabetic wound care, call High Desert Limb Salvage Institute or book online today.