Individuals with diabetes have a unique set of foot and ankle needs. At Yurkanin Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Center, Dr. Yurkanin can accommodate these specialized needs with her expertise in diabetic pathology. The two main complications affecting people with diabetes are poor circulation and nerve damage. These complications can cause certain foot and ankle conditions to occur, while also escalating other issues. Some possible complications that Dr. Yurkanin manages are:
A bone infection that can occur when bacteria enters the bone from a chronic ulceration.
Occurs when the top layers of skin become damaged, causing an open sore that exposes the deeper tissues. Diabetic ulcers can become secondarily infected. Due to diabetic patients being immunocompromised and suffering from numbness in their feet, they may not be aware that they have an ulcer and/or that it is infected. This is why it is essential to follow up with a foot and ankle specialist and have your feet evaluated routinely to prevent ulcerations from occurring.
A type of nerve damage caused by diabetes that can affect the sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves, resulting in loss of sensation, decreased mobility, and involuntary functions.
Charcot foot occurs in individuals with nerve damage whose bones become weakened, fracture, and eventually the foot can collapse and take on a rocker-bottom shape as a result of continued walking. Charcot foot can cause mild or severe deformity, disability, and amputation, so it must be treated immediately. Symptoms of charcot foot include: warmth, redness, swelling, and pain in the foot. To diagnose charcot foot, Dr. Yurkanin will ask about your medical history, examine your foot, and take x-rays to evaluate the foot structure. If you are diagnosed with charcot foot, x-rays will be used to track your treatment progress. Non-surgical treatment for charcot foot includes: immobilizing the foot to allow healing, modifying activities to decrease trauma to the foot, and wearing specialized shoes, orthotics, or braces to provide additional support and decrease deformity. In some cases, surgery may be needed and Dr. Yurkanin will discuss her surgical approach on a case-by-case basis.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, then you should be receiving diabetic foot care from Dr. Yurkanin. It is important to seek care early to avoid irreversible damage to your feet that may result in amputation. Schedule a consultation today, and Dr. Yurkanin will help you develop a diabetic foot care plan aimed at amputation prevention.
Most of diabetic foot care aims to prevent foot conditions from occurring and managing existing conditions before they develop into more serious issues. Depending on your individual case, Dr. Yurkanin will make recommendations on the type of diabetic foot care that will work best for you. She will also help you develop a plan for keeping your feet as healthy as possible.
Yes. First, you will want to inspect your feet every day and make note of any small changes to discuss with Dr. Yurkanin. This is also important to make sure there are no signs of fractures or infections. Finally, you will want to keep your blood sugar levels regulated since this can directly affecting your foot health.
Yurkanin Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Center practices excellence in treating all of your foot and ankle needs, from minimally invasive surgery to complicated reconstructions for foot and ankle problems. Take a step in the right direction and schedule your consultation today!
People with diabetes have a 34% chance of developing a foot ulcer. Of these foot ulcers, over 50% become infected and 20% result in amputations. In fact, diabetic amputations account for 80% of the 120,000 non-traumatic amputations performed annually in the United States.
