What is diabetic foot treatment?
Diabetic foot treatment is an essential function that can prevent loss of limbs in patients who have diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition that develops when your body produces too little insulin or can’t make use of the insulin it’s creating. Diabetes can cause a range of complications, one of which is diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Regularly examining the feet of patients who have diabetes is essential so that LA Orthopaedic Specialists can identify any injuries or skin problems before they become a major issue.
At LA Orthopaedic Specialists, Dr. Nalamlieng specializes in keeping diabetic feet healthy and treating the problems diabetic peripheral neuropathy can cause.
Why is diabetic peripheral neuropathy such a problem?
Neuropathy is a broad term for problems affecting the nerves. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy develops as a result of having diabetes, and it causes nerve problems in your feet. One of the problems it causes is numbness or reduced feeling in your feet.
If you injure your foot or have an infection like toenail fungus, you might not realize because you don’t feel anything. That means you don’t keep the wound clean, and bacterial infection can set in.
At the same time, diabetes causes circulation problems, so blood flow to your hands and feet slows down.
Because the blood flow is reduced when you have diabetes, wounds are more likely to turn into ulcers, which are open, painful sores that resist healing. Infected leg ulcers can cause gangrene and result in amputation for some people.
How is diabetic peripheral neuropathy treated?
You need to attend routine checkups at LA Orthopaedic Specialists so that Dr. Nalamlieng can assess the condition of your feet and spot any signs of problems.
He can look at X-rays of your feet to see how healthy the internal structures are and look for pressure points where ulcers are more likely to develop.
Dr. Nalamlieng can also carry out nerve function testing and circulation tests to look for signs of neuropathy or impaired circulation in your feet. He can then prescribe the best treatment for your condition, which could include:
- Medication
- Braces
- Orthopaedic shoes or custom orthotics
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Electrical nerve stimulation
Managing your diabetes is also vital in controlling diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
If you have diabetes, foot care is something you should take seriously. Call LA Orthopaedic Specialists today to find out more or book an appointment online.
