Diabetes and your feet
Hyperbaric chamber treatment for diabetic foot wounds on Long Island
If you have diabetes and a sore on your foot that has not closed in a month, this page is for you. Hyperbaric oxygen is an approved, insurance-covered treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, and it is the thing we do every day at both clinics.
Ask about your foot wound
Tell us who you are and what you are asking about. Someone from the clinic calls you back within one business day.
Neuropathy, then the wound
Why diabetic feet end up here
Diabetes does two things to feet over time. Neuropathy takes away feeling, so a blister, a cut, or a rubbing shoe goes unnoticed. Narrowed small vessels take away blood flow, so the skin cannot repair itself. Put those together and a small sore becomes an ulcer that will not close.
That ulcer is the danger. Left open it gets infected, reaches the bone, and is the usual road to an amputation. Closing it is the whole job.
Hyperbaric oxygen does not treat the neuropathy itself, and we will not tell you it does. What it treats is the wound the neuropathy caused: more oxygen in the tissue means new vessels, better infection control, and skin that finally closes.
Is it covered?
Medicare: yes
Medicare covers hyperbaric oxygen for diabetic foot ulcers that have reached a certain depth and have not improved after 30 days of standard wound care. We confirm your wound meets that bar at the evaluation.
Most insurance: yes
Most major plans follow the Medicare rule. We verify your benefits before the first session and tell you exactly what to expect.
What is not covered
Neuropathy pain or numbness without a wound is not an approved use, and we do not treat it. If that is your situation, your doctor or a podiatrist is the right call, and we will say so.
What a course looks like
- Evaluation. We measure and photograph the wound, check circulation, and look for bone involvement. Bring your podiatrist's notes if you have them.
- Daily sessions. About two hours each, Monday through Friday, usually 20 to 40 in all. You lie down, breathe oxygen, and rest.
- Your wound care continues. Dressings, offloading, and your podiatrist stay in the picture. We send them notes.
- Progress is a number. The wound is measured on a schedule, so you see it closing week by week.
Two clinics: Great Neck and Massapequa Park. See also diabetic foot ulcers and wound care.