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Diabetic Foot Care in Timonium, MD
Diabetic foot care is regular, preventive care that helps people with diabetes reduce the risk of serious foot problems, including wounds, infections, and amputations. Dr. Jordan R. Stewart, DPM and Dr. Yehonadav Kadosh, DPM provide comprehensive diabetic foot exams, including evaluation of circulation, sensation, skin, and nails, along with routine nail and callus care, wound prevention and treatment, and guidance on shoes.
Because diabetes can reduce sensation and circulation in the feet, injuries and other problems may go unnoticed or heal more slowly. Regular foot care and early treatment can help identify problems before they become more serious.
Because diabetes can reduce sensation and circulation in the feet, injuries and other problems may go unnoticed or heal more slowly. Regular foot care and early treatment can help identify problems before they become more serious.
Why does diabetic foot care matter?
Diabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels in your feet, which makes it harder to feel an injury and harder to heal one. A small blister or cut can quietly become a serious wound. Regular diabetic foot care catches these problems early — often before you’d notice them yourself — which is the single best way to protect your feet and stay mobile.
What happens during a diabetic foot exam?
A diabetic foot exam evaluates the skin, nails, circulation, sensation, foot structure, and areas of abnormal pressure. Our doctors look for changes that may increase the risk of wounds or other complications and recommend how often you should be seen based on your individual risk factors.
- Skin and nail evaluation: Checking for cuts, blisters, calluses, dryness, fungal infections, ingrown nails, and other abnormalities.
- Neurologic evaluation: Testing sensation to identify signs of peripheral neuropathy and loss of protective sensation.
- Circulation evaluation: Checking pulses and other signs that may indicate reduced blood flow to the feet.
- Foot structure and pressure evaluation: Looking for deformities, prominent bones, calluses, or other areas exposed to increased pressure.
- Preventive foot care: Trimming thick or difficult nails and reducing calluses when medically appropriate.
- Risk assessment: Determining whether additional treatment, diabetic shoes, more frequent examinations, or other preventive measures may be appropriate.
How often should I see a podiatrist for diabetic foot care?
How often you should see a podiatrist depends on your individual risk factors and foot care needs. Patients with good circulation, normal sensation, and no history of significant foot or ankle problems may need less frequent visits, while those with neuropathy, poor circulation, significant calluses, foot deformities, or a history of wounds may require more frequent care.
Our doctors will evaluate your feet and recommend an appropriate schedule for diabetic foot exams and preventive care. The goal is to identify and treat problems early—before they develop into wounds, infections, or other serious complications.
Our doctors will evaluate your feet and recommend an appropriate schedule for diabetic foot exams and preventive care. The goal is to identify and treat problems early—before they develop into wounds, infections, or other serious complications.
When should I call right away?
Contact our office promptly if you develop a new cut, blister, sore, wound, redness, swelling, warmth, or drainage—especially if an area is not healing. Because diabetes can reduce sensation and impair healing, even a small problem may require attention before it becomes more serious.
Fever, chills, spreading redness, rapidly increasing swelling, drainage, or other signs of a significant infection require urgent medical evaluation. If you have diabetes and develop a foot wound, don't wait for it to become painful before having it evaluated.
Fever, chills, spreading redness, rapidly increasing swelling, drainage, or other signs of a significant infection require urgent medical evaluation. If you have diabetes and develop a foot wound, don't wait for it to become painful before having it evaluated.
Dr. Jordan R. Stewart
DPM, Board Certified in Foot Surgery by ABFAS
Diabetic foot care, answered
Why is diabetic foot care important for people with diabetes?
Diabetes can affect the nerves, circulation, skin, and joints of the feet. Reduced sensation may make it difficult to feel cuts, blisters, or pressure points, while poor circulation can slow healing. Regular diabetic foot care helps identify problems early, reduce the risk of wounds and infection, and preserve long-term foot health. Early treatment is one of the most effective ways to prevent serious complications.
How often should someone with diabetes have a foot exam?
Everyone with diabetes should have a comprehensive foot examination at least once a year. Patients with peripheral neuropathy, poor circulation, foot deformities, a history of ulcers, or other risk factors may benefit from more frequent evaluations. Dr. Stewart will recommend an examination schedule based on your individual risk.
What happens during a diabetic foot exam?
A diabetic foot examination includes an assessment of circulation, nerve function, skin integrity, foot structure, and footwear. Our doctors evaluate for numbness, poor circulation, calluses, deformities, pressure areas, and early signs of skin breakdown. Early detection allows many problems to be treated before they become serious. If needed, Dr. Stewart will recommend additional testing and specialist referrals.
What are the warning signs of a diabetic foot ulcer or infection?
Contact our office promptly if you notice redness, swelling, drainage, an open sore, increasing pain, a new callus, skin discoloration, foul odor, or any wound that is not healing. Patients with diabetic neuropathy may not experience pain even when a serious infection or ulcer is developing, making regular foot examinations especially important.
What should I do if I develop a cut, blister, or sore on my foot?
Wash the area gently with soap and water, apply a clean dressing, and avoid additional pressure on the area. Because even small wounds can progress quickly in patients with diabetes, you should contact our office promptly for evaluation. Early treatment can significantly reduce the risk of infection, hospitalization, and more serious complications.
Can diabetes cause foot pain?
Yes. Diabetes can contribute to foot pain in several ways, including nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy), poor circulation, joint changes, tendon disorders, and increased pressure from foot deformities. Because many different conditions can cause foot pain, a comprehensive examination is important to determine the underlying cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
What does diabetic neuropathy feel like?
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy may cause numbness, tingling, burning, sharp pains, or a "pins and needles" sensation in the feet. Some patients experience increased sensitivity, while others gradually lose protective sensation altogether. Because neuropathy can make it difficult to feel injuries, routine foot examinations and daily self-inspections are essential.
Can diabetes affect circulation in the feet?
Yes. Diabetes can contribute to peripheral arterial disease, reducing blood flow to the feet and slowing wound healing. Symptoms may include cold feet, cramping with walking, slow-healing wounds, or changes in skin color. Our doctors evaluate circulation as part of every diabetic foot examination and may recommend additional vascular testing when appropriate.
Can I trim my own toenails and calluses if I have diabetes?
Many patients can safely trim their toenails if they have good vision, flexibility, and sensation. However, patients with neuropathy, poor circulation, thick nails, or difficulty reaching their feet should have nail care performed professionally and Dr. Stewart provides these services. Calluses should never be cut with razors or treated with over-the-counter acid products, as these can increase the risk of wounds and infection.
What shoes should people with diabetes wear?
People with diabetes should wear properly fitting shoes that provide adequate support, cushioning, and protection without creating pressure points. Tight shoes, worn-out footwear, and walking barefoot increase the risk of blisters, calluses, wounds, and infection. Dr. Stewart can recommend appropriate footwear based on your foot structure, activity level, and risk factors.
When are diabetic shoes or custom inserts recommended?
Diabetic therapeutic shoes and custom inserts may be recommended for patients with peripheral neuropathy, foot deformities, prominent bones, previous ulcers, or areas of increased pressure. Their purpose is to redistribute pressure, reduce friction, and help lower the risk of skin breakdown and ulcer formation.
How can I prevent diabetic foot ulcers?
The best way to reduce your risk is through prevention. Inspect your feet every day, wear properly fitting shoes, avoid walking barefoot, keep your blood sugar under good control, and seek prompt evaluation for any new blister, cut, or pressure area. Regular examinations by a podiatrist can identify problems early and help prevent wounds, infection, hospitalization, and, in severe cases, amputation.
Why do people with diabetes develop foot ulcers?
Diabetic foot ulcers usually develop because of a combination of peripheral neuropathy, increased pressure, foot deformities, poor circulation, and repetitive trauma. Since patients with neuropathy often cannot feel injuries, even a small blister or callus can progress into a serious wound if left untreated. Early recognition and pressure reduction are critical to preventing complications.
When should someone with diabetes see a podiatrist?
Patients with diabetes should establish routine foot care before problems develop. You should schedule an evaluation if you experience numbness, burning, foot pain, calluses, nail problems, deformities, changes in skin color, swelling, or any wound or blister. Early treatment often prevents more serious complications.
Will Medicare cover diabetic foot care?
Having diabetes does not automatically qualify Medicare patients for at risk foot care. Medicare may cover certain diabetic foot care services for patients who have risk factors and meet specific medical criteria. Coverage may include routine foot care for qualifying patients. Our office can help determine your eligibility and explain your coverage options.
Why choose Timonium Foot and Ankle Center for diabetic foot care?
Preventing diabetic foot complications begins with early detection and personalized care. Our doctors perform comprehensive diabetic foot evaluations to identify problems before they become serious. Whether you need routine preventive care, treatment for a painful condition, custom orthotics, or advanced wound care, every recommendation is based on your individual risk factors, diagnosis, and long-term foot health goals.
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