Wound Care

I have diabetes. Can I benefit from wound care?

Yes. If you have diabetes or another medical condition like peripheral arterial disease (PAD), gangrene, or osteomyelitis, wound care can reduce your risk of complications like amputation. 

At Prestige Medical Care, the providers focus on limb salvage. They offer nonsurgical and surgical wound care treatments emphasizing healthy lifestyle changes and routine checkups.

Who should consider wound care?

Make a wound care appointment at Prestige Medical Care if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Pain
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Swelling
• Skin discoloration
• Hair loss
• Open wound
• Foul smell
• Discharge or pus

Most slow-healing wounds develop over weeks or months and form on the calves, ankles, or feet. 

What happens during a wound care visit?

Your Prestige Medical Care provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes an exam. They look at your feet, toes, and ankles for signs of infection and touch the soles of your feet with different tools to check for numbness. 

If you have a blister, ulcer, or another open wound, your provider collects a biopsy sample and sends it to a nearby lab for testing. They also order X-rays or an MRI to see how far the ulcer goes beneath your skin and if it extends to the bone.

What type of wound care might benefit me?

The type of wound care that will most benefit you depends on various factors, including the underlying cause and the size and severity of the ulcer. Your Prestige Medical Care provider might recommend:

• Cleaning the wound
• Draining fluid or pus from the ulcer
• Removing or cutting away infected or dead tissue (debridement)
• Applying special bandages or ointments to the wound
• Prescribing a wheelchair or crutches (offloading)
• Prescribing oral or intravenous antibiotics to eliminate the infection

It might take several types of treatment. Your provider monitors your progress at regular checkups and adjusts your care plan as necessary.

Is there any way to reduce the need for wound care?

The best way to reduce the need for wound care is to manage the underlying causes, such as PAD, diabetes, and gangrene. 

If you have any of these diseases, it’s essential you take good care of your feet. Prestige Medical Care recommends inspecting your feet daily, keeping your toenails trimmed and filed, and wearing socks and shoes at all times to reduce the risk of injury.

Call Prestige Medical Care today to schedule a wound care consultation, or book your appointment online.