Diabetic Foot Care in Houston, TX
Diabetes can quietly damage the nerves and blood vessels in your feet, turning a small blister, cut, or callus into a serious wound before you notice it. Routine diabetic foot care is one of the most effective ways to prevent infections, ulcers, and amputations. Dr. Ken Dennis has provided diabetic foot exams and preventive care for Houston patients for more than 40 years.
Why People with Diabetes Need a Podiatrist
High blood sugar can cause peripheral neuropathy, which reduces your ability to feel pain, heat, and pressure. Diabetes can also slow circulation, so wounds heal more slowly. Together, these changes make everyday foot problems such as ingrown toenails, fungal nails, and corns far more dangerous.
Our Diabetic Foot Care Services
- Comprehensive diabetic foot exams, including sensation and circulation checks
- Professional nail and callus care to prevent pressure sores
- Treatment of corns, calluses, and hammertoes
- Management of painful neuropathy and nerve damage
- Evaluation and treatment of blisters, cuts, and wounds
- Protective footwear guidance and custom foot orthotics to offload pressure points
- Education on daily foot checks and skin care
- Coordination with your primary care physician or endocrinologist
Warning Signs to Watch For
Call our office promptly if you notice any of the following:
- A cut, blister, or sore that isn’t healing
- Redness, warmth, or swelling
- Drainage or odor
- Changes in skin color or temperature
- New numbness, tingling, or burning
- Thick, ingrown, or discolored nails
Daily Foot Care Tips
Check your feet every day, wash and dry them carefully, moisturize (but not between the toes), always wear socks and shoes, and never try to cut corns or dig out ingrown nails at home. Read more in our podiatry blog.
How Often Should You Be Seen?
Most people with diabetes should have a comprehensive foot exam at least once a year. Patients with neuropathy, poor circulation, foot deformities, or a history of ulcers may need visits every few months. Medicare and most insurance plans cover medically necessary diabetic foot care; review our accepted insurance.
Protect Your Feet in Houston
Explore our full list of podiatry services and the conditions we treat, or call Kenrick J. Dennis, DPM at (713) 465-8833 to schedule your diabetic foot exam.
Diabetic Foot Care FAQs
How often should someone with diabetes see a podiatrist?
Most people with diabetes should have a foot exam at least once a year, and more often if they have neuropathy, poor circulation, or a history of foot ulcers.
What happens during a diabetic foot exam?
Dr. Dennis checks your skin, nails, circulation, sensation, and foot structure, and looks for pressure points, wounds, or early signs of infection.
Does Medicare cover diabetic foot care?
Medicare and most insurance plans cover medically necessary diabetic foot exams and care. Coverage for routine nail care depends on your specific health conditions.
Can I trim my own toenails if I have diabetes?
If you have neuropathy, poor circulation, or thick nails, it’s safest to have a podiatrist trim them to avoid cuts and infections.
Why are foot wounds dangerous with diabetes?
Nerve damage can hide injuries, and reduced circulation slows healing, so small wounds can quickly become infected ulcers.
Do people with diabetes need special shoes?
Many patients benefit from protective, well-fitting shoes and custom orthotics that reduce pressure points and help prevent skin breakdown.
What should I do if I find a sore on my foot?
Keep it clean, stay off it as much as possible, and call our office right away so the wound can be evaluated and treated.