We are Open and COVID-19 compliant for the safety of our patients and employees. Questions about WCH Podiatry Services? Phone: 928-668-5506
Diabetics are prone to poor circulation, have a weakened immune system, and impaired nerve function in their feet (peripheral neuropathy). Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can be pain, numbness, tingling, and burning sensations in your feet. In addition, diabetic feet are more susceptible to developing sores, and non-healing wounds which may lead to ulcers. Foot wounds can also develop into serious infections which can lead to gangrene, amputations, loss of limbs, and even loss of life. Although rare, nerve damage from diabetes can also lead to changes in the shape of the feet, such as Charcot’s foot. It is important to remember that most people with diabetes can prevent serious foot complications. Regular care at home and going to all doctor’s appointments are your best bet for preventing foot problems (and stopping small problems from becoming serious ones).
If you have diabetes, a podiatrist plays a key role as part of your diabetes healthcare team to assess your specific foot health risks and assist in developing a foot health treatment and prevention plan. Our podiatrist, Tanner Moore, DPM specializes in diabetic foot and wound care (foot ulcers) at the Wickenburg Community Hospital Surgical Clinic in Wickenburg, AZ. Dr. Moore uses the latest research and techniques to deliver exceptional diabetic foot care to residents and snow-birds alike in Wickenburg, AZ, and surrounding communities through every diabetic stage.
Dr. Moore is available to treat diabetic patients full-time Monday through Friday at Wickenburg Community Hospital Surgical Clinic, with on-call night and weekend emergency care in Wickenburg, AZ. As the first step in maintaining your diabetic foot health, we recommend that you come in for a comprehensive diabetic foot evaluation.
To receive non-surgical and surgical podiatry care at Wickenburg Community Hospital Surgical Clinic call us at 928-668-5506 and make an appointment for a foot exam with Dr. Tanner Moore.
Dr. Moore will use the latest technology to test and assess the circulation to your feet, determine your individual foot health risks, and develop a treatment plan specifically for you.
Our diabetic services include extensive preventive, and surgical foot care for diabetes management:
Because of the reduced circulation in the feet associated with diabetes, having an open diabetic wound (foot ulcer) increases the risk of infection and serious health complications. If you have a non-healing diabetic wound located anywhere on your foot or ankle, it is essential that you seek care quickly. Timely wound care by a podiatrist reduces the risk of serious health complications associated with diabetic foot wounds and sores.
When you first come to our practice, WCH Podiatry Services, Dr. Moore will use the latest technology to perform a comprehensive neurologic, vascular, and orthopedic exam. Dr. Moore treats diabetic wounds using advanced wound care modalities and if it is determined that surgery is required, it is performed on-campus at Wickenburg Community Hospital Surgical Center. Currently, all patients referred for surgery receive rapid COVID-19 testing as part of the pre-surgery checklist. Once the wounds are healed, patients receive regular follow-ups to help avoid future problems.
To receive non-surgical and surgical diabetic wound care at Wickenburg Community Hospital Surgical Clinic call us at 928-668-5506 and make a diabetic foot evaluation appointment with Dr. Tanner Moore.
Get your feet checked at every health care visit.
If you have diabetes, here’s a way to keep standing on your own two feet: check them every day—even if they feel fine—and see your doctor if you have a cut or blister that won’t heal.
There’s a lot to manage if you have diabetes: checking your blood sugar, making healthy food, finding time to be active, taking medicines, going to doctor’s appointments. With all that, your feet might be the last thing on your mind. But daily care is one of the best ways to prevent foot complications.
About half of all people with diabetes have some kind of diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). You can have nerve damage in any part of your body, but nerves in your feet and legs are most often affected. Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet.
Some people with nerve damage have numbness, tingling, or pain, but others have no symptoms. Nerve damage can also lower your ability to feel pain, heat, or cold.
Living without pain sounds pretty good, but it comes at a high cost. Pain is the body’s way of telling you something’s wrong so you can take care of yourself. If you don’t feel pain in your feet, you may not notice a cut, blister, sore, or other problem. Small problems can become serious if they aren’t treated early.
Preventing Nerve Damage
What’s the most important thing you can do to prevent nerve damage or stop it from getting worse? Keep your blood sugar in your target range as much as possible. Other good diabetes management habits can help, too:
Anyone with diabetes can develop nerve damage, but these factors increase your risk:
Nerve damage, along with poor blood flow—another diabetes complication—puts you at risk for developing a foot ulcer (a sore or wound) that could get infected and not heal well. If an infection doesn’t get better with treatment, your toe, foot, or part of your leg may need to be amputated (removed by surgery) to prevent the infection from spreading and to save your life.
When you check your feet every day, you can catch problems early and get them treated right away. Early treatment greatly reduces your risk of amputation.
Get to the bottom of any foot problems by using a mirror or asking for help.
Reference: [1] https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/healthy-feet.html
This information is meant to be informative but not prescriptive. Their purpose is to provide information on diseases and processes rather than dictate a specific form of diagnosis or treatment. The ultimate judgment regarding the propriety of any specific procedure must be made by the physician after all the circumstances are presented by the individual patient.
Community Hospital Clinics are located in Wickenburg, Wittmann, and Congress. We sincerely follow our mission to provide quality health and wellness services where the patient, family, and community come first.
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