Doctor for Diabetic foot Treatment in Vile Parle

Diabetic Foot

A diabetic foot is any pathology that results directly from Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and / or sensory neuropathy affecting the feet in diabetes mellitus; it is a long-term complication of Diabetes Mellitus.

Book Appointment

Signs of Diabetic foot:

Changes in skin colour
Changes in skin temperature
Swelling in the foot / ankle
Pain in the legs
Open sores on the feet that are slow to heal or are draining
Ingrown toe nails or toe nails infected with fungus
Corns or calluses
Dry cracks in the skin, especially around the heel.
Diminished ability to sense hot and cold.
Discharge with foul odour

Causes of Diabetic foot:

Poorly fitted or poor quality shoes.
Poor hygiene (not washing regularly or thoroughly or not drying the feet well after washing)
Uncontrolled blood sugar : directly affects the nerves of the leg.
Uncontrolled blood sugar : damages the blood supply of the leg.
Uncontrolled blood sugar : makes the muscle and the skin weak.

Diagnosis :

Whom should you consult

Check on symptoms
Blood sugar tests – FBS, PPBS, HbA1c
General physician / Endocrinologist/ Diabetologist for blood sugar control and whole body evaluation
Neurologist for assessment of Nerve assessment
Plastic Surgeon /Diabetic foot expert for wounds in the foot

Complications

foot ulcers or wounds that do not heal
infections, including skin infections,bone infections, and abscesses
gangrene, when an infection causes tissue death
foot deformity
Charcot’s foot, which alters the shape of the feet as bones in the foot and toe shift or break leading to permanent physical changes.
Amputation in case of gangrene.

Treatment

Blood Sugar control : Controlling blood sugar prevents the progression of diabetic foot. Medical treatment with good blood sugar control, antibiotics required to prevent infections and medications to improve blood supply, go a long way to protect your foot.

Wound dressings offer protection and barrier to external contaminants while promoting absorption of discharges around the ulcer. Different types of dressings are available to promote wound healing. Negative pressure wound therapy : This involves removal of wound fluid through a sealed vacuum. This is aimed at improving tissue perfusion and promotion of granulation tissue.

Debridement Surgery

Getting rid of dead debris and necrotic tissues
It forms the main stay of treatment
Has to be aggressive because the infection spreads inside
Many sittings of debridement may be required
At the end the wound becomes clean and reddish

Infected diabetic wound – Needs to be cleaned and made fit for reconstructive surgery.

Revascularization Surgery : Revascularization of critically ischaemic legs results in increased perfusion after the procedure which in turn is associated with reduced amputation rate.

Reconstructive Surgery

Simple stitching
Skin grafting
Local flaps from nearby areas
Flaps from other areas
Nerve release to increase sensation and healing

Growth factors and skin substitutes

Bio-physiological stimulants of wound healing like growth factors including platelet-derived growth factors, epidermal growth factors, etc also form a major role in speeding up the wound healing process.

Skin Grafting

Foot Care

Foot Wear

Further pressure reduction and redistribution of weight-bearing load over an increased area of the foot can be achieved by offloading strategies. Removable, non-removable casts, orthotic devices and custom fabricated shoes and insoles can be used.