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Am I A candidateJonathon Gisclair, DPM
Board-certified in foot surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and a certified wound specialist by the American Board of Wound Management, Dr. Jonathan Gisclair is a reputed podiatry specialist in Louisiana. In his 16 years’ experience treating feet, he has seen more foot issues related to diabetes than any other foot ailment.
After studying podiatry at the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, Dr. Gisclair remained in Chicago to complete his foot surgical residency training at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Through his work at Mount Sinai, he gained invaluable experience working in a large, high-volume diabetic foot clinic, and a busy trauma center, caring for foot trauma through clinical...
Symptoms of diabetes may include tingling or numbness in your feet, sores that drain without any pain, and frequent thirst or hunger. As Dr. Gisclair explains, diabetes is a serious condition, and it is linked to several comorbidities including: retinopathy (an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina); nephropathy (a disease that damages the kidneys); neuropathy (a condition causing a loss of sensation in the feet and toes); and cardiovascular disease. The vascular complications of diabetes are among the most serious manifestations of the disease. “One of the reasons I am excited to join LSU Healthcare is that we share a clinic with our vascular surgeons and are able to manage diabetic patients as an integral team,” Dr. Gisclair says.
Educating Patients
Dr. Gisclair says that the five-year mortality rate after a new onset diabetic ulcer is 43 to 55 percent, and, for patients who undergo a lower extremity amputation, it can reach 74 percent. “These rates are higher than some cancers including prostate, breast and colon cancer, and, although diabetes is genetic, much of the complications of the disease can be prevented or minimized through education,” he says. “What I would like patients to realize is that the body is remarkable. Pain is there to let us know that something is wrong, and many of these patients lack this gift and must visually inspect their feet or have their family members do so. If you see something or feel something that is not right, it is always worth having it checked out.”
On why he became a podiatrist: “Before I went to podiatry school, I was an x-ray technologist, and that is when I became interested in how the body works,” Dr. Gisclair says. “While in pre-med courses, I learned that there was a shortage of podiatrists in Louisiana — two for every 100,000 people. Growing up in southern Louisiana, where I knew a lot of people with diabetes, some who are relatives, I decided it was where I could offer the most help.”
On family life and living in New Orleans: “I met my wife,Sharm El’ while I was in pre-med, and she was in medical school,” Dr. Gisclair says. “We have been happily married for 20 years and have three wonderful daughters (12, 13 and 16) who keep us extra busy. I have been a season ticket holder of the Saints for 35 years, and my daughters are all avid fans and season ticket holders since birth.
