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I’m a Diabetic with a Foot Ulcer Needing Wound Care: Can You Help?
Living with diabetes presents many challenges, including the potential for serious complications, such as diabetic foot ulcers. If you have an open wound on your foot that’s not healing, don’t ignore it.
Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep specializes in diagnosing and treating diabetic foot ulcers, with board-certified critical care nurse Caitlin Lynch, APRN, providing wound care services at our office in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Our team also coordinates with your primary care specialist to ensure your diabetes is well controlled to prevent additional complications.
About diabetic foot ulcers
A diabetic foot ulcer is an open wound that typically forms on the bottom of the foot due to friction from shoes or from small, undetected cuts.
These ulcers heal slowly or fail to heal due to nerve and blood vessel damage that results from high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Damaged vessels can’t circulate blood properly, so the body can’t heal wounds as efficiently as it should.
Small cuts and other foot injuries can go undetected and undiagnosed because nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy) prevents you from feeling pain sensations. Even minor blisters can turn into large, infected wounds over time.
Why regular foot checks are essential
To catch problems early, people with diabetes should check their feet daily to identify small injuries on the tops and bottoms of the feet or between the toes. Schedule an evaluation with Caitlin and our team if you have diabetic foot ulcer symptoms such as:
- An open foot sore
- Drainage from the wound
- Redness or swelling around the wound
- Skin discoloration
- Pain or numbness in the foot
Without prompt care, a diabetic foot ulcer can lead to a deep infection, tissue death, and even the need for amputation.
At the first sign of an injury, clean the area well and keep it dry and covered. Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes to protect against additional injuries. Also, monitor your blood sugar levels and follow your diabetes treatment plan to bring your glucose levels under control.
What to expect from our advanced wound care services
Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep offers comprehensive, customized care for people with diabetic foot ulcers. Caitlin and the team use evidence-based therapies to clean the wound and remove dead tissue (debridement), so the wound can close fully.
If your open wound is infected, we can treat it with topical or oral medication. We focus on preserving as much healthy surrounding tissue as possible and preventing the need for amputation of the toes or foot.
We also provide ongoing monitoring services to ensure the wound heals fully and prevent a recurrence of open wounds related to uncontrolled diabetes.
If you have an open wound that doesn’t heal within a few days or one that’s painful or infected, call Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep at 727-892-2928 today to schedule a consultation with Caitlin and our medical team.
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