Diabetic Foot Ontario
Empire Foot and Ankle Center’s experienced team of professionals proficiently diagnose, treat, and work to prevent diabetes-related foot complications. We also have a robust diabetes management program aimed at a better understanding of the disease, treatments, and complications.
At Empire Foot and Ankle Center, we offer diabetic patients a wide range of treatments and therapies – including educational, surgical, and non-surgical options – to help them keep their feet as healthy as possible and prevent serious diabetic foot complications.
Specialists in Treating Diabetic Foot Complications
Individuals with diabetes are exclusively prone to foot complications due to neuropathy – nerve damage that can cause vascular disease – and sensation loss, which can block blood flow and stop the healing process.
These diabetic foot complications mean that minor foot problems such as cuts, ingrown toenails, blisters, and scrapes can become severely infected ulcers before they are diagnosed and treated. This is the reason why it’s not unusual for people with diabetes to lose their feet, toes, and legs to amputation.
Similarly, diabetic neuropathy can result in a change in the shape of the feet and lead to a foot condition called Charcot foot.
Empire Foot and Ankle Center’s diabetic foot Ontario specialists work to avoid these complications and appropriately treat them when they occur. Our multidisciplinary team includes orthopedic surgeons, podiatric surgeons, vascular surgeons, infectious disease specialists, endocrinologists, internal medicine specialists, and patient educators.
We are a specialist service offering advanced care for active diabetic foot complications.
SERVICES OFFERED
- Specialist dressings, healing, and pressure-relieving techniques and treatments. Advanced treatments, such as negative pressure therapy, and larvae therapy, are also available.
- Wound care. This includes removing dead tissue to promote wound
- Casting for Charcot foot and wounds, including heel casts, total contact casts, and soft slipper casts.
- The management and treatment of diabetic fractures – Charcot Neuroarthropathy.
- Work closely with specialist Orthotists to give bespoke insoles and footwear to patients who have had diabetic foot complications.
- Working as part of a collective multidisciplinary team with Diabetes, Vascular, and Orthopaedic consultants.
- Access to radiology and microbiology teams for quick advice and guidance.
- Referral access to imaging such as MRI, X-Ray, and vascular scans.
PREVENTION
Patient education and proper foot care are vital in avoiding diabetic foot complications. Preventive measures include:
- Carefully checking the feet on a daily basis for cuts, blisters, scrapes, ingrown toenails, fungal infections, calluses, corns, plantar warts, and warm spots
- Properly managing blood glucose levels
- Always wearing shoes along with socks
- Properly washing and drying the feet daily
- Keeping the blood flowing to the feet and legs
- Keeping feet from getting too cold or hot
- Cutting toenails straight across
- Having the specialist check a patient’s feet at every visit
- Gently smoothing calluses and corns
People with diabetes should consult a specialist promptly if they develop any issues with their feet, no matter how negligible.
TREATMENT
Quick, appropriate assessment and treatment of diabetic foot concerns are essential to preventing serious foot complications, and Empire Foot and Ankle Center’s specialists aggressively treat these issues.
TREATMENTS INCLUDE:
- Antibiotics
- Wound monitoring and care
- Surgery: Includes infection incision and drainage, damaged-tissue removal (debridement), reconstruction, trauma treatment, fracture repair, and amputation. The experienced surgeons on our Diabetic Limb Salvage Service strive to preserve functional limbs and avoid amputation and in patients with diabetic foot complications.
- Rehabilitation: For patients recovering from surgery
WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR FIRST VISIT EMPIRE FOOT AND ANKLE CENTER
Each patient will have their detailed evaluation of medical history, neurological status, and foot vasculature. Both feet will be examined at each visit, and a plan will be made between the podiatrist and the patient dependent on the consultation’s findings.