Diabetic Wound Care and Onychomycosis
Did you know that certain foot problems are often early signs of diabetes? If you have diabetes, you may suffer from sores that don’t heal, numbness, weakness, burning or coldness, blisters, dry skin, itching and other disorders of the feet. If left untreated, you are at risk of infection and other severe foot problems.
Diabetic foot problems are one of the leading causes of amputations of the lower limbs. A damaged nervous system is often to blame. Weakened nervous systems aren’t able to effectively convey messages from the feet and this causes numbness. Normal sweat secretion and oil production in the feet are also impaired causing abnormal pressure and skin issues that often result in sores. Unfortunately, the disease often renders the body unable to effectively fight off infections. And these open sores, or ulcers, on the bottom of the feet lead to bacterial infection, which can lead to amputation in severe cases. But the good news is, research shows that most diabetic foot ulcers are preventable with regulated blood sugar control and regular foot care.
Diabetic Wound Treatment in New Jersey
Our diabetic wound care services offer a comprehensive treatment for acute and chronic wounds. We customize treatment plans for every patient addressing sugar control, foot circulation, presence or absence of sensation and the need to offload or cushion the area.
Onychomycosis
Have you ever seen someone with thick, yellowish toenails? Or do you have them yourself? It’s probably onychomycosis or nail fungus – a common medical condition in patients with diabetes.
But the fact is, anyone can get toe fungus infections. It tends to be more common in people who are under a lot of stress, wear shoes that don’t fit well, frequent nail salons, or tend to go barefoot in warm places like public showers, swimming pools or locker rooms. Onychomycosis is a fairly common condition, and in most of the cases, it’s caused by the same dermatophytes that cause athlete’s foot. These dermatophytes feed on the nail’s keratin causing changes within the nail. The toenail fungus can spread easily with direct contact of objects containing fungal spores like socks, shoes and towels. Untreated toenail fungus can spread to other parts of the body, nails, hands and legs. Excessive skin breakdown can lead to a secondary bacterial infection, which is potentially dangerous in diabetics and those with a suppressed immune system.
Toenail Fungus Symptoms
- Changes in toenail color (yellow or green)
- Thickening, scaling and crumbling nails
- Foot odor
Toe Fungus Treatment NJ
Visit our office before beginning any treatment. Topical and oral medications may be administered depending on your health status and the stage of infection. Chronic infections are much more difficult to treat. To prevent fungal infections, wash and dry your feet every day, don’t share clothing or towels, wear shoes and socks made of natural materials, don’t walk barefoot in public places and avoid nail salons that don’t sterilize tools
Serving all your foot and ankle concerns, Family Foot & Ankle Center of Central Jersey provides comprehensive care for infants, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors.
Please call today for an appointment (732) 851-1617.