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YourHub.com \\ Burbank \\ Stories \\ Health \\ Advice

Give bothersome foot wounds the boot

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Contributed by: Tracey Laity on 10/27/2006

In support of national Diabetes Education Week (Nov. 7 to 11), Verdugo Hills Hospital's Wound Care Advantage Program is encouraging everyone - whether they have diabetes or not - to seek treatment for stubborn wounds.

Foot ulcers - serious, deep sores on the feet - can, in fact, be one of the first symptoms of diabetes. Since diabetes can lead to dry and cracked skin, poor blood flow and nerve damage, diabetics have a higher likelihood of developing non-healing wounds, warns Joseph Addiego, doctor of podiatry medicine at Verdugo Hills Hospital's Wound Care Advantage Program.

"Diabetes Awareness Month is an opportunity to encourage people to seek specialized treatment for their wounds, especially areas most prone to diabetic ulcers, which are the legs and feet," Addiegeo said. "We need to get the message out to everyone, not just those who know they have diabetes. We've had many patients see us for foot sores, only to discover that they have undiagnosed diabetes. These untreated foot sores can lead to hospitalization or amputation."

Carol Taylor, a resident of Pasadena, has been a patient of the hospital's wound care program for eight months. She injured her ankle at a step-down facility and was referred to the program in March after her physician noticed the wound was taking a long time to heal. Taylor is a diabetic and this affected the ability of her body to recover from her original injury.

"My podiatrist referred me to the wound care program and since I have come here, my wound has started to heal nicely," Taylor said. "I should be done in about another month of treatment. I think it is very important for people to get help if they are suffering from a long-term wound because the earlier they get in, the much better off they be will be in the long-run."

To help raise awareness of diabetes and the importance of proper wound management and treatment, staff at the wound care program are offering residents free diabetic foot screenings every Wednesday afternoon during the month of November.

Verdugo Hills Hospital's wound care program is an outpatient facility specializing in the treatment of chronic, non-healing wounds. It is staffed by physicians and nursing personnel with advanced training in wound management. For more information about wound care or to make an appointment, please call (818) 952-2239.

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