Why Diabetic Foot Care Matters

More than 34 million Americans live with diabetes, and approximately 25% will develop a foot ulcer during their lifetime. Of those, up to 15% may require amputation if not properly treated.

Key Ways to Protect Your Feet:

• Inspect your feet daily. Look for redness, blisters, or cuts.
• Keep your feet clean and moisturized. Avoid soaking.
• Never walk barefoot. Protect your feet with shoes, even at home.
• See a foot specialist regularly. Early detection of pressure points and deformity is critical.
• Manage your blood sugar. Good control promotes better healing and reduces infection risk.

We work closely with endocrinology, vascular surgery, infectious disease, and wound care specialists to ensure comprehensive, coordinated care.

Understanding Charcot Arthropathy

Charcot foot often develops without pain due to nerve damage. Patients may continue walking on an unstable foot, worsening the collapse. Early signs include:

• Warm, swollen foot (often mistaken for infection)
• Redness or subtle deformity
• Changes in foot shape over time

At MUSC, we offer:

• Advanced imaging for early diagnosis
• Custom bracing and offloading devices
• Reconstructive surgery for foot and ankle realignment
• Ongoing care to prevent recurrence

Prompt recognition and treatment can prevent irreversible deformity and maintain independence.

Why Choose MUSC for Limb Salvage and Diabetic Foot Care?

• Multidisciplinary limb preservation program
• Fellowship-trained orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons and podiatric surgeons
• State-of-the-art surgical techniques and fixation technologies
• Research-driven, personalized treatment plans
• Strong outcomes in limb salvage, wound healing, and functional recovery
• MUSC Wound Care Clinic offering
• MUSC Prosthetics & Orthotics Services
• Routine foot care and preventative services thru MUSC podiatry

We are proud to serve as a regional referral center for patients with non-healing wounds, Charcot deformities, and high-risk diabetic foot conditions.

Appointments and Referrals

Patients, families, and referring physicians are encouraged to contact our team for evaluation or second opinions related to:

• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Suspected Charcot arthropathy
• Infections of the foot and ankle
• Complex deformity or nonunion
• High-risk conditions requiring limb salvage