Diabetic Foot

Vascular disease in patients with diabetes can lead to problems of the diabetic foot.  Because of the complexity of the problem as well as the risk of leg amputation, the vascular surgeon caring for the patient with a diabetic foot problem should be experienced and well-acquainted with the appropriate treatment and management. 

Our team of vascular surgeons is dedicated to preventing leg amputation in individuals with diabetes, and has the experience and expertise to effectively treat this problem.

Causes of Foot Disease in Diabetes
Three main factors lead to problems of the diabetic foot:

• Neuropathy – many factors cause neuropathy in diabetes.  Numbness in the foot is one of the manifestations of diabetic neuropathy.
• Vascular disease – this is the same as peripheral artery disease (PAD), and is caused by atherosclerosis. 
• Infection

Signs and symptoms of a diabetic foot problem may include:

• An ulcer or sore in the foot
• Pain
• Redness in the foot
• Gangrene

What to Expect at Your Medical Exam

1. Your vascular surgeon will perform a full history, including questions about the nature of your diabetic foot problem, severity, and how fast it typically takes you to heal from a wound.
2. He or she will also perform a full physical exam to determine which causes are present, and whether vascular disease is present.
3. In some cases, the infection and severity of the problem may prompt your vascular surgeon to recommend admission to the hospital for treatment.

Treatment of the Diabetic Foot
The treatment will be directed toward the causes.  Often, this means control of the infection with antibiotics.  If there is extensive infection in the foot, your vascular surgeon will recommend surgery to drain the infection. 

If vascular disease is present, you may undergo one or more tests, such as Duplex ultrasound or arteriography. This may be followed by either open surgery or endovascular surgery to re-establish normal blood flow to the foot.