Diabetic Foot Care Specialist

Foot Healers

Podiatrists located in Brentwood, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, St. Peters, & Webster, MO

Up to 15% of adults with diabetes develop foot ulcers or other complications related to the disease. At Foot Healers, the premier podiatric care practice in the Greater St. Louis area, the team of dedicated foot care experts can help you maintain healthy feet and prevent serious diabetes complications. There are five locations in Brentwood, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, St. Peters, and Shrewsbury, Missouri, so call the one nearest you or book your diabetic foot care checkup with online scheduling now.

Diabetic Foot Care Q & A

How does diabetes affect the feet?

Diabetes is a systemic disease, which means it causes damage in all parts of your body. There are a few reasons why diabetes is especially harmful to your feet, including:

Nerve damage

Nerve damage, called peripheral neuropathy, causes symptoms like shooting pain, tingling, burning, and numbness in the feet. You may not know if you have a sore on your foot due to lack of sensation. Nerve damage can even destroy the bones in your foot, leading to a rocker-shaped foot (Charcot’s foot).

Blood flow

Diabetes can reduce blood flow to your feet, which is called peripheral vascular disease. This poor blood flow prevents you from healing normally when you have a wound, often resulting in ulcers. Ulcers may grow infected, and eventually may lead to gangrene (tissue death).

Without the proper care, you could eventually lose a toe, foot, or leg. By seeing your Foot Healers podiatrist for regular diabetic foot care, you can reduce the risk of lower limb amputation by up to 85%.

When should I see the podiatrist for diabetic foot care?

Even if your diabetes is well controlled and you’re not having foot issues, it's still important to see your Foot Healers podiatrist at least once a year. If your blood sugar isn't stable, or if you have a history of foot issues, you may need to see the podiatrist more often.

Also, it's important to seek help when you have foot issues including:

Bruising, redness, or other discolored skin
Skin warmth
Swelling
Pain
Slow-healing cuts or sores
Ingrown toenail
Fungal toenail
Broken or bleeding corns and calluses
Heel skin cracks

Never try to treat these problems at home because your infection risk is very high. Your Foot Healers podiatrist is an expert in every aspect of diabetic foot care, and they can help right away.

How do you treat diabetic foot problems?

Your Foot Healers podiatrist can prescribe special diabetic shoes and custom orthotics for foot support and protection if you need them. If you have wounds or ulcers, your podiatrist can dress the wound, debride dead skin, and stimulate accelerated healing.

The Foot Healers team also recommends measures to prevent diabetic foot damage. This includes simple changes like trimming your nails in a line, washing and drying your feet daily, and doing a self-exam every day.

Don’t allow diabetes to destroy your foot health. Call the friendly Foot Healers team, or click on the appointment scheduler to get help now.

What we offer