Diabetic Limb Salvage

Diabetic Limb Salvage Specialists

If you have diabetes and develop a slow healing wound or ulcer, diabetic limb salvage can prevent infection, lowering your risk of amputation or other serious complications. At Eastside Podiatry PLLC in St. Clair Shores and Fraser, Michigan, board-certified podiatrists and foot and ankle surgeons Hatim Burhani, DPM, FACFAS, Siraj Panchbhaiya, DPM, FACFAS, and the team, regularly use diabetic limb salvage techniques to preserve their patients’ health and quality of life. To request your appointment today, call the office to speak with a friendly team member or click the online booking tool.

Diabetic Limb Salvage Q & A

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is an umbrella term used to describe a group of chronic diseases characterized by high blood glucose (sugar). Everyone needs some blood sugar to survive. It powers your brain and provides fuel for the muscles and soft tissues throughout your body. However, if your blood sugar levels are too high for too long, it increases your risk of serious health problems including heart disease, slow-healing wounds, and infection.

How does diabetes affect my feet?

Foot problems are one of the main reasons diabetics end up in the hospital. Over time, diabetes can cause permanent nerve damage also known as neuropathy. If the nerves in your feet and ankles don’t work like they should, you can cut your foot, develop a wound, or step on a foreign object and not realize it. Left unmanaged, minor injuries can turn into major infections, causing gangrene and ultimately, the need for amputation.

Some common diabetic foot problems include:

Foot ulcers
Swelling
Cuts
Sores
Ingrown toenails
Deep infections

If you have diabetes, you’re also at risk of charcot fractures. This occurs if you break a bone or suffer a crush injury but don’t realize it.

What is diabetic limb salvage?

Diabetic limb salvage is a branch of podiatry care focused on treating diabetic foot problems before they get worse. By taking preemptive measures, diabetic limb salvage can preserve your feet and ankles without the need for a time-consuming, risky, or complex surgery.

Eastside Podiatry PLLC holds membership in a group of wound care centers where the only focus is diabetic limb salvage. This ensures men, women, and children with diabetes receive the podiatric care they desperately need, before diabetes-related wound problems become more serious.

Is there any way to lower my risk of diabetes-related foot problems?

There’s no way to prevent diabetes-related foot problems entirely, but there are steps you can take to significantly lower your risk. The team at Eastside Podiatry PLLC recommends:

Wearing comfortable shoes
Inspecting your feet daily
Having regular foot exams
Visiting the podiatrist once every six months
Controlling your diabetes
Taking even minor injuries seriously

You can also lower your risk of diabetes-related foot problems by always wearing socks and shoes. Try and avoid going barefoot as it significantly increases your risk of cuts, blisters, and stepping down on foreign objects.

To learn more about the benefits of diabetic limb salvage, make an appointment at Eastside Podiatry PLLC today by calling the office or clicking the online scheduling tool.

Diabetic Limb Salvage