Holiday Heel: How Calcaneal Fractures Break Your Season
In this episode Dr. G explains “holiday heel” — calcaneal (heel) fractures that spike during the holidays from ladder falls, slips and carrying heavy decorations. Learn the common mechanisms, key exam findings (plantar bruising, Mulder’s sign, inability to bear weight), and why diabetics are at higher risk due to neuropathy, poor bone quality, and slower healing.
Dr. G covers emergency concerns such as compartment syndrome, diagnostic steps including x-ray and CT, immediate management (non‑weightbearing, splinting, ER evaluation), expected recovery, and diabetic-specific complications. The episode finishes with clear prevention tips: ladder safety, proper footwear, clearing hazards, checking blood sugar, and delegating risky tasks.
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17:26
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17:26
Thanksgiving Survival Guide for Diabetic Feet: Eat, Protect, Prevent
This episode offers a concise Thanksgiving survival plan for people with diabetes: which foods help or harm wound healing, how to manage blood sugar before and after the meal, and which holiday habits raise ulcer risk.
Learn practical tips on protective footwear, offloading during long cooking or shopping days, burn and fall prevention, and when to inspect feet or seek urgent care.
Simple, actionable advice on what to eat, what to avoid, blood glucose targets and monitoring times, and immediate steps to take if you notice redness, drainage, or swelling.
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15:35
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15:35
Mercury Retrograde & The Reopened Ulcer: Unfinished Business, Cosmic Chaos, Biomechanics, and How to Stop the Cycle Before It Ends in Amputation
Dr. G uses the Mercury Retrograde analogy to explain why diabetic foot ulcers often recur, covering medical and mechanical causes like osteomyelitis, unresolved pressure, neuropathy, scar tissue, and poor footwear. He outlines common hotspot locations, signs of underlying bone infection, and why healed skin remains fragile.
The episode emphasizes immediate reassessment for reopened wounds, essential tests (cultures, labs, X-ray/MRI), and proven prevention: timely offloading (TCC, boots, custom orthotics), footwear adjustments, surgical fixes when needed, daily foot checks, moisturizing, and close follow-up to stop the cycle and avoid amputation.
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21:29
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21:29
Being in A Situationship with Your Diabetic Foot Ulcer: breaking the toxic cycle
Dr. G compares diabetic foot ulcers to a "situationship"—a pattern of ignoring early warning signs, inconsistent care, and delayed follow-up that lets small wounds become serious. This episode explains how ulcers can appear suddenly, linger, and then worsen if not treated promptly.
Dr. G covers the red flags (swelling, drainage, odor, persistent callus), the essentials of assessment and treatment (debridement, culture, x-ray, vascular checks, offloading), and clear prevention steps: daily foot checks, strict follow-up, glucose control, avoiding barefoot/pressure, and proper footwear. The takeaway: don’t ignore small problems—early action prevents complications and amputations.
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14:01
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14:01
Cutting the Culprit: How Removing a Peroneus Brevis Saved a Leg
Dr. G returns with a real-world diabetic foot case about exposed tendons, focusing on the peroneus brevis. This episode explains why exposed tendons resist healing, when tendon excision is necessary (infection, necrosis, persistent biofilm, or lack of granulation), and the trade-offs between biomechanics and limb salvage.
Practical tips covered include keeping exposed tendons moist, immobilization, fenestration, serial debridement, use of grafts or scaffolds, and postoperative rehabilitation including bracing and physical therapy. The episode emphasizes that saving the limb often means removing structures that prevent wound closure.
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Welcome to the Diabetic Foot Files Podcast—the show where real stories, latest research, and essential tips to help prevent diabetic foot complications. I’m Dr. G / Dr WoundPicasso aka Dr. Gabrielle Hutcheson Donaldson and as a podiatrist and wound care specialist . I’m here to educate, empower, and guide you through the world of diabetic foot care. From wound healing to amputation prevention, we’ll break down the facts, bust the myths, and share life-saving strategies. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this podcast is your go-to resource for healthier feet and a better quality of life. So let’s dive in—because take care of your feet, because the take care of you
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