Wound Care

If you have diabetes, wound care is essential. Every day in the United States, 230 people with diabetes have an amputation. At Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, Joel Segalman, DPM, FACFAS, FACFAO, and Stephen Lazaroff, DPM, FACFAS, provide comprehensive diabetic wound care, helping foot ulcers heal with advanced techniques and giving you self-care tips to prevent future wounds. Schedule an appointment as soon as you notice a cut, bruise, or wound on your feet. Call the office in Waterbury or Newtown, Connecticut, or use the online booking feature today.

Why do I need diabetic wound care?

Everyone who has diabetes has an increased risk of developing open sores (ulcers) on their feet. These sores are dangerous because they only heal with intensive wound care.

Diabetic wounds begin as a tiny cut, bruise, or abrasion. Then your minor wound quickly turns into a nonhealing diabetic ulcer because of two problems caused by diabetes. These include:

Loss of sensation

High blood sugar damages the nerves in your feet. The condition, called diabetic neuropathy, may cause tingling or burning at first. Eventually, it reduces sensation and causes numbness. That means you don’t feel the pain of a small cut, so you’re not aware of the problem and don’t treat it.

Loss of circulation

High blood sugar also damages your blood vessels, reducing circulation and depriving tiny cuts of the oxygen they need to heal. As a result, small wounds quickly turn into open ulcers that rapidly enlarge, encouraging significant skin and bone infections.

Can I prevent the need for wound care?

You can lower your risk of wounds by getting into the habit of examining, cleaning, and moisturizing your feet. That lets you catch those tiny cuts and get wound care before they progress to become an ulcer.

People with diabetes should schedule a yearly foot exam. You also need to see your Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, provider any time you notice foot problems, such as:

• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Small cuts or blisters
• Corns and calluses
• Cracks in your skin
• Sores on your feet
• Changes in skin color
• Changes in skin temperature
• Foot deformities like bunions

Resist the urge to treat common problems, like ingrown toenails, at home because it’s too easy to accidentally cut your skin and risk a nonhealing wound. They need professional care at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC.

What type of wound care will I receive?

Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, provides comprehensive wound care that includes:

• Wound debridement (cleaning the wound and removing infected or dead tissues)
• Advanced dressings
• Bio-engineered tissue substitutes
• Negative pressure wound therapy
• Antibiotic therapy for an infection
• Off-loading to eliminate pressure points

Off-loading promotes healing by taking pressure off the ulcer. Your provider can off-load your wound by using orthotics, bracing, or specialized casts.

Your wound care also includes diabetes education and making sure you have the treatment needed to keep your blood sugar in the normal range. 

To schedule a wound care appointment, call the nearest office or book online today.