Blog Archive

Vascular testing checks the blood flow in your veins and arteries. There are many different types of vascular tests, including angiography.  Here at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center, the team offers three kinds of angiography: traditional angiography, CO2 angiography, and computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Have...

Limb preservation is a specialized healthcare approach dedicated to safeguarding the health, function, and integrity of your limbs. This comprehensive care focuses on preventing and treating conditions that pose a threat to limb viability, such as injuries, infections, and diseases like diabetes or vascular disorders.  To put it simply, limb...

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.But what...

Regular exercise provides no end of benefits for your body and mind. Exercise can boost your immune system, lift your mood, help you maintain a healthy weight, and can even help you manage a variety of health concerns 一 and that includes peripheral neuropathy.  Peripheral neuropathy refers to damaged nerves...

Diabetics are more prone to foot problems (for a variety of reasons), and even the smallest of issues can snowball into larger ones. That also includes ingrown nails. Though many non-diabetics may be able to treat a minor ingrown nail at home, the same just isn’t true if you have...

Diabetic foot care is essential for diabetics, but if you develop an open sore, it’s even more important. It may be tempting to cover the sore with a bandage and try at-home wound care, but resist the temptation! Diabetic ulcers can quickly lead to serious complications like infection, gangrene, and...

If you're living with diabetes, you're likely already aware of the importance of managing your blood sugar levels, eating a well-balanced diet, and exercising. But did you know that your choice of footwear matters? Your shoes always have a significant impact on your foot health, but it’s even more important...

Minor foot injuries, such as cuts, scrapes, or blisters, aren’t uncommon. For many people, these wounds form a scab, heal, and eventually disappear within a few days. Unfortunately, the healing process isn’t as simple for those with circulatory problems or diabetes. Slow-healing wounds are a very real problem 一 and one that...

Foot ulcers (open wounds on the foot) are a common complication of diabetes. As many as 25% of people with diabetes experience ulcers, and unfortunately, foot ulcers can lead to serious consequences (including amputation) if they’re left unattended. As an experienced podiatrist, Dr. Ruben Nieto knows firsthand that the only...

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a circulatory problem that develops when plaque builds up in the arteries that bring blood to your legs and feet. The plaque narrows your arteries, which reduces the blood flow. Although you might not notice PAD in its earliest stages, it can lead to serious...

About 1 out of every 10 people will experience plantar fasciitis at some point. You might suspect you have plantar fasciitis if your first few steps each morning cause searing pain in your heels. Plantar fasciitis often affects runners, dancers, people who are on their feet all day, people with...

Bunions (halluces valgi) develop when your first metatarsal bone turns outward, causing your big toe to lean inward. This creates a painful bump at the metatarsophalangeal joint. Although they develop slowly, bunions can contribute to pain, swelling, and redness on your big toe.  If prescription medication, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections,...

You might not think much about your heel until it hurts, but unfortunately, heel pain affects nearly 2 million men and women each year. Left untreated, heel pain can significantly limit your mobility. The team here at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center in Bakersfield, California, wants you to know that...

Over 40 million adults have experienced an ingrown nail, making them one of the most common foot ailments. They can impact people of all ages, including teens and seniors alike, but they can be particularly troublesome for those with diabetes.  The team here at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center in...

September is PAD Awareness Month, and in honor of that, our team here at the Diabetic Foot and Wound Center in Bakersfield, California, wants to shine the spotlight on PAD, or peripheral artery disease.  What is PAD? Did you know that 6.5 million people in the United States alone have...

A hammertoe can sideline athletes and nonathletes alike. Hammertoes happen when the muscles and tendons in your toes become unbalanced or weakened. This can put pressure on your middle toe joint, causing it to bend. A hammertoe is more than a cosmetic bend in your toe: it causes calluses, sores,...

Diabetic ulcers are a common complication in patients with diabetes. About 70% of those who develop an ulcer experience a worsening of the condition within five years. This statistic shows just how important prevention is. Preventing ulcers can help you avoid the risks associated with ulcers, which include infections and...

Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high blood sugar. Unfortunately, the complications of high blood sugar extend far beyond your blood vessels. As many as 10% of all people with diabetes experience foot ulcers, and 24% of those with ulcers experience a limb amputation. Limb amputations related to...

It is estimated that about one out of three people over the age of 65 have a bunion to some degree. Anyone can develop a bunion, no matter their age, including children — even those under 10 years old. At whatever age you develop bunions, they can either cause no...

Minimally Invasive Treatment for Varicose Veins Varicose veins (commonly referred to as spider veins) are common in older women. By the age of 50, approximately 41% of women experience varicose veins. In addition to cosmetic concerns, they cause pain and fatigue and sometimes threaten the health of the limbs. Varicose...

Relief For Swollen Legs If you’re experiencing swelling in the legs and feet this summer, you may find that it is not only embarrassing but uncomfortable and impractical. Leg swelling or edema affects many older adults due to a variety of reasons. Luckily there is relief for patients who suffer...

Effecting 15 percent of patients with diabetes, a foot ulcer is an open sore or wound commonly found on the bottom of the foot. Anyone who has diabetes can develop a foot ulcer, and approximately 20 percent of patients with diabetes who develop a foot ulcer will require an amputation....

Peripheral arterial disease, known as P.A.D., develops when arteries become clogged due to extra cholesterol and fat. PAD usually occurs in the lower limbs, such as the legs and feet, but can be seen in other areas of the body. This is a common, yet serious, disease that can be...

Peripheral arterial disease, P.A.D., is a condition in which your arteries become clogged due to a buildup of extra cholesterol and fat. Normally seen in the lower limbs, P.A.D. can be seen anywhere in the body. This is a common disease, however just like clogged arteries in the heart can...