“Foot care in Diabetics is one of the most important things I do; limb and life threatening infections can come on so quickly–appropriate attention and care can literally save a leg or a life.” -Dr. Shylaja Arya
DIABETIC FOOT
Patients with Diabetes run the risk of many pathologies including calluses, ulcers, and amputations due to issues with neuropathy, poor wound healing and vascular compromise. Neuropathy often presents as numbness, tingling, burning, lack of feeling, itching, and other strange sensations for patients. Neuropathy predisposes Diabetic patients to ulcerations due to lack of feeling and pain/temperature sensations. Dr. Shylaja Arya checks her Diabetic patients diligently for the level of sensation they have, as oftentimes neuropathy is progressive. Poor blood sugar management over time can significantly increase the risk of inefficient wound healing, which means if a Diabetic gets a cut on their foot or a callus that cracks open–it may be harder for them to heal it versus an otherwise healthy inpidual. Blood flow can also be compromised in Diabetics, which makes vascular awareness and vascular education so important. Dr. Shylaja Arya believes in the team approach to medicine and always will integrate combination care if appropriate with a vascular specialist (blood flow doctor), neurologist (nerves doctor), and primary care physician in order to treat the patient holistically and completely for their health as a Diabetic.
GERIATRIC FOOT CARE
Older patients have difficult times taking care of their nails, skin issues, soft tissue masses, and much more due to limited mobility, skin integrity and sometimes poor eyesight. Dr. Shylaja Arya enjoys working with her elderly population, as she finds it satisfying to know she helped someone in such an impactful way with something as simple as cutting thick toenails for a patient that recently had a hip replacement. She enjoys building relationships with these patients from a social and medical standpoint and takes pride in developing routine foot care appointments to help these patients feel healthier on their feet and as a way to help them maintain their self care that becomes so important as we get older. With Dr. Shylaja Arya’s experience in working with elderly patients, she has learned little things like nails/calluses can make a big impact in her patients quality of life and self esteem. That’s one of her favorite things about working with older patients.
“My goal is to keep patients active and moving, and to feel comfortable in their own skin…it helps us stay young.”