If you have diabetes,your skin is part of the story.
Even small cuts can turn into big problems when blood sugar, circulation, and nerve sensitivity are all working against you. The good news: early, specialized care changes outcomes — sometimes dramatically.
with diabetes
in their lifetime
began with an ulcer
Three things diabetesdoes to a wound.
Diabetes doesn't just affect blood sugar. It affects the systems that close a wound — and when those systems are working against you, even a small injury becomes a much bigger problem.
Slows healing
High blood sugar interferes with white blood cells, the body's wound-closing crew. The same injury that closes in two weeks for someone without diabetes can take many weeks or months — and stays vulnerable to infection the whole time.
Reduces sensation
Diabetic neuropathy means you may not feel a wound starting. A pebble in the shoe, a too-tight strap, a hot floor — without sensation, small problems become deep wounds before you notice. More than half of people with diabetes have some neuropathy.
Compromises circulation
Diabetes accelerates vascular changes — narrowing the small vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to healing tissue. Less blood flow means slower healing and a wound that's working with fewer resources from the start.
Care that fitsa chronic disease.
Diabetes is a long-term partnership. So is healing a wound. We don't treat the wound and send you home with paperwork — we build a plan that fits your blood sugar control, your foot care routine, your circulation, and the people on your care team.
We approach diabetic wound care as part of your overall diabetes management — not separate from it.
That means we take time to understand what your endocrinologist has you on, what your podiatrist has set up for offloading, what your daily routine looks like, and what's actually getting in the way of healing.
Then we adjust as you do. The plan that works in week two often needs to evolve by week six. You'll see the same provider every visit — someone who knows the wound, the history, and what's been tried.
- Wound and foot exam at every visit, with attention to neuropathy and pulses
- Offloading strategy matched to your foot, your shoes, and your life
- Coordination with your endocrinologist, podiatrist, and primary care — with your consent
- Hyperbaric oxygen for qualifying wounds (typically Wagner Grade 3 or 4)
- Education for prevention, not just treatment of the current wound
What we look forat every visit.
A diabetic wound visit isn't just a dressing change. Here's what gets examined, asked about, and watched — every time.
The wound itself
Bed appearance, depth, drainage, surrounding tissue. Is it making progress? Is anything new — necrotic tissue, exposed bone, a tunneling tract? The wound tells the story; we make sure we're reading it accurately.
The skin around it
Warmth, color, swelling, callus formation, dryness. Diabetes affects skin integrity well beyond the wound margin — and changes here often signal infection or pressure issues before the wound itself does.
Sensation
We test sensation routinely with a monofilament and pinprick. Knowing where you have feeling — and where you don't — drives offloading decisions, footwear recommendations, and how often we want to see you back.
Circulation
Pulses in the foot, capillary refill, skin temperature. If circulation isn't supporting healing, no dressing in the world is going to close the wound — we need to know early so we can coordinate with vascular when needed.
Footwear and offloading
Are you wearing what we asked you to wear? Is it actually helping? Does the device need adjustment? Many wounds open or fail to close because of pressure that's still happening — solving the offloading problem solves the wound problem.
Don't wait until next visit.
Some changes need a same-day call, not a same-week appointment. If you have diabetes and you see any of these, call us — that's what we're here for.
- A new red, warm, or painful spot on your foot
- Drainage that wasn't there before, or a change in odor
- A wound that hasn't shown progress in two weeks
- New or worsening numbness, or new pain in a numb area
- Color change in your foot — darker, paler, redder, or blueish
- Fever, chills, or feeling unwell with no other obvious cause
- Anything that worries you — that's reason enough
Questions worth asking out loud.
Tap any question to expand. If yours isn't here, call us — we answer the phone.
How long does it take a diabetic foot ulcer to heal?
Healing time varies. Wound size, location, your circulation, blood sugar control, and how consistently pressure stays off the area all play a role. We don't make calendar promises — we've seen wounds close in six weeks and others take six months. What we can promise is the same provider every visit and a plan that adjusts as the wound does.
Will I need an amputation?
For most patients, no. About 80% of diabetes-related amputations begin with an ulcer that wasn't treated effectively or early enough. With specialized care — careful monitoring, offloading, and hyperbaric oxygen when indicated — the majority of diabetic foot wounds heal, including ones that have been open a long time.
Do I need a referral to come to a wound care clinic?
No referral required. You can call us directly at 605-743-0402 to schedule a free 15-minute inquiry call. That said, we coordinate closely with referring providers — endocrinologists, podiatrists, primary care — and many patients arrive on their recommendation.
Does insurance cover wound care for diabetic ulcers?
Yes. Most diabetic wound care is covered by Medicare and major insurance. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is also covered for qualifying wounds (typically Wagner Grade 3 or 4). We'll verify your specific coverage before treatment begins.
What's hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and would I need it?
HBOT is a treatment in which you breathe pressurized oxygen inside a chamber for about two hours per session. The pressurized oxygen reaches damaged tissue at concentrations not possible from normal breathing, stimulating blood vessel growth and tissue repair. For diabetic wounds, HBOT is added when your wound qualifies — typically Wagner Grade 3 or 4 ulcers that aren't responding to standard care.
How is wound care here different from primary care?
Wound care is our specialty, not a side concern. That means more time per visit, access to advanced therapies (biologic skin substitutes, specialized dressings, on-site HBOT), the same provider every visit, and direct coordination with your existing care team. Most primary care offices aren't built for chronic wound management — they send patients here for that reason.
Wounds rarely comefrom one cause.
Diabetes often shows up alongside vascular issues, and home care matters every day between visits. Three more places to start.
Vascular Disease & Wound Healing
Diabetes and circulation problems often travel together. Here's what's different about vascular wounds and how we treat them alongside diabetes.
Caring for Your Wound at Home
What you do between visits matters as much as what we do here. The 5-minute daily check that catches problems early.
Why Specialized Wound Care
Wound care isn't a side concern at most clinics. It's our only focus. Here's what that means for your treatment.
Whatever stage you're at,
it's timeto make a plan.
Schedule a free 15-minute inquiry call. We'll listen, ask the right questions, and tell you honestly whether we're a fit. No pressure, no hour-long visit.