Ask These Questions at Your Next Diabetic Foot Care Check-Up

There are 537 million people around the globe who have diabetes and you’ve joined these numbers with a diagnosis of your own. When you’re first diagnosed with this chronic disease, the information can come flying at you awfully fast and it’s all you can do to keep up. 

This is why we urge patients here at Foot Ankle Leg Wound Care Orange County to use their diabetic foot care appointments with us to gather information. Under the direction of Dr. Thomas Rambacher our team partners with patients, and a big part of this effort is education.

So, as you gear up for your next diabetic foot care visit with our team, you might want to consider asking some of the following questions.

What are the best ways to manage glucose levels?

The overriding goal when you have diabetes is to manage glucose levels in your bloodstream. Since your body isn’t producing enough insulin and/or you’ve become resistant to insulin, you need to pick up the slack and prevent glucose from building up in your blood, where it can lead to vascular issues and peripheral neuropathy, among other complications.

So, during your visit, we’re going to look at medications, lifestyle, and your diet to find the best ways for you to keep glucose levels in healthy ranges.

How can I prevent peripheral neuropathy?

People with diabetes often develop peripheral neuropathy, which is nerve damage, especially in their lower limbs.  In fact, diabetic peripheral neuropathy affects about half of adults with diabetes, so this complication is very real.

This complication isn’t a foregone conclusion, however, and there are many great steps that you can take to avoid nerve damage, which we’ll share with you during your visit with us.

How do I recognize when there’s a brewing foot problem?

If you develop peripheral neuropathy in your lower limbs, you might experience foot pain or numbness and tingling in your feet. You might also notice that even the smallest blister takes a long time to heal, which means that blood isn’t flowing well to your feet.

It’s these little things that we want you to recognize, as early as possible, so that we can step in and prevent small problems from ballooning into much larger, more serious ones.

How can I protect my feet?

Since we specialize in foot, ankle, and leg wounds, we know a thing or two about protecting your feet and we’re happy to share some best practices with you. In fact, we’ll come up with a personalized plan that fits with your lifestyle, which will include footwear recommendations and daily foot checks.

Can I go barefoot?

If you live near the water or you’re a beachgoer or you love an afternoon at the pool, you need to take some precautions as we don’t want you walking around without shoes. During your visit, we can review the dangers of going barefoot and when going shoeless is acceptable.

Our team feels that there’s no such thing as a silly question so we invite you to add this to the list for your next appointment. Rest assured, if you forget to ask something during your visit, we’re just a phone call away.

For more information and further questions about diabetic foot care, or to schedule your appointment, please contact our office in Mission Viejo, California, at 949-832-6018 or request an appointment online today.