Diabetic Foot Healing & Wellness
OUR MISSION
Less hassle
•
More healing
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Less hassle • More healing •
What is the Diabetic Foot?
People who have diabetes are at a higher risk of developing complications with their feet, including:
toenail fungus
Athlete’s foot
corns, calluses
cracked or discolored skin
circulation issues or peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
loss of sensation in the feet or peripheral neuropathy
diabetic foot ulcers (DFU)
amputation of toes, partial foot, leg
Many of these lower extremity complications can be prevented or minimized with expert podiatric care.
PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE
Proactive foot care is the next best thing
Early Signs of a
Diabetic Foot Ulcer
Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) are the leading cause of nontraumatic amputations in people with diabetes and many are preventable. DFU often starts with a small callus or hard tissue build-up on the bottom of the foot or on top of the toes. These areas are prone to high-pressure points from long periods of standing or tightly fitted shoes.
Calluses are how your body indicates there is too much pressure and it must be addressed. Over time, calluses hurt healthy tissue underneath leading to pain and skin breakdown called a DFU. Some people with peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) may not feel this pain, however, so it’s important to get regular foot exams.
When a DFU does not heal within a week, it may indicate serious underlying issues including circulation problems, peripheral neuropathy, and nutritional deficiencies, to name a few.
Open wounds are at risk of infection, which may lead to sepsis requiring hospitalization. Thus it is important to heal DFUs right away.
Dr. Tea is fellowship-trained in wound surgery and will help prevent and heal DFUs with:
proper shoe recommendations
appropriate padding
custom orthotics for your foot type
prescription diabetic shoes
proper wound care & appropriate biologics
toenail & callus trimming
minimally invasive surgery to correct deformities
Ignoring a foot callus has serious consequences. It can lead to a Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU).
Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Healing diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) requires a multimodal approach to optimize your healing potential. The major principles in healing a DFU include
minimizing nerve damage with good blood sugar control, nutrition, & supplements
optimizing blood flow by eliminating nicotine products, reducing bad cholesterol in your diet, & procedural intervention with a vascular surgeon when indicated
offloading pressure points with specialized footwear and corrective surgery
expert wound care which includes optimizing the wound environment for healing
stress management to improve your overall well being so you can enjoy more active-rich days outside the hospital
Podiatrists like Dr. Tea help to coordinate care with your team of doctors, which may include your primary care physician, vascular surgeon, cardiologist, orthopedist, other podiatrists, neurologist, nutritionist, endocrinologist, diabetic educator, and others to maximize your healing potential.
GOOGLE REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I have had severe foot problems for 7 years. I have seen most of the foot doctors in the Monterey County area. After just six weeks and 2 in office surgeries she had me walking without pain for the first time I can remember.”
GOOGLE REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Dr. Tea took care of my father who was told by 3 other doctors he needed a leg amputation. She successfully healed him and he follows her recommendations closely, which allowed him to keep both feet attached and functional. ”