One out of every five diabetic patients will develop a foot ulcer during their lifetime. Prevention and quick treatment are essential for protecting your health, which is why Dr. Mafutaga Tagaloa-Tulifau offers routine diabetic foot exams, education about self-care, and expert treatment when diabetic foot problems develop. A diabetic foot ulcer is one of the most severe complications of diabetes, so call her practice, Tagaloa-Tulifau Foot & Ankle Center, Inc in Lakewood, California, or book an appointment online for diabetic foot care.
High blood sugar damages small blood vessels, which interferes with circulation in your feet. When this happens, cuts and sores take extra time to heal or don’t heal properly.
When your blood sugar is high, another severe condition develops – diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage – which makes it hard to feel sensations like pain, heat, cold and itching.
Diabetic neuropathy is a common factor in about 90% of all diabetic foot ulcers. Without normal nerve signals, you won’t feel symptoms of a cut or wound, so it may go untreated, develop into an ulcer, and cause an infection. It’s essential to:
Prevent ulcers with daily self-inspection
You can prevent ulcers if you check your feet every day and find potential problems as early as possible.
Seek professional treatment
It’s important to obtain treatment from Dr. Tagaloa-Tulifau as soon as you notice any of the following:
Dr. Tagaloa-Tulifau may take an X-ray to look for changes in your bones and bone misalignments that lead to ulcers. Then she takes a proactive approach, with routine check-ups and treatment of foot deformities, such as bunions, hammertoes, and flat feet, which increase your risk of developing a foot ulcer.
After a diabetic foot ulcer develops, treatment focuses on healing and preventing infection. Treatment may include:
Diabetic shoes are specially designed to prevent skin damage and ulcers with features such as:
The Tagaloa-Tulifau Foot & Ankle Center, Inc is certified by the Medicare Therapeutic Diabetic Shoe Program, which means they meet strict Medicare guidelines, they’re certified shoe-fitters, and they’re approved to prescribe diabetic shoes for Medicare participants.
Please call Dr. Tagaloa-Tulifau or schedule an appointment online for routine foot care that helps prevent diabetic foot ulcers.
