A diabetic foot ulcer is an open sore or wound that appears on the bottom of the foot and may lead to amputation if not treated quickly.

Two complications from diabetes contribute to foot ulcers:

Ulcersanddiabeticwoundcare 300x200Foot deformities, irritation from pressure or friction such as from wearing inappropriate shoes, and trauma can cause the formation of ulcers too.

Symptoms

Pain is not a common symptom because of accompanying neuropathy. But you may notice:

It’s essential to seek out a podiatrist’s help immediately if you notice an ulcer.

Treatment

Our goal is healing the ulcer as soon as possible to reduce the chance of an infection. To do this, we will take pressure off the area, remove dead skin and tissue and apply medication and dressing.

Using a brace or specialized castings, wearing special footgear or using crutches or a wheelchair can help reduce pressure and irritation.

Wound management includes keeping the area covered and moist. We will apply topical medication and dressings. We will assess blood circulation levels with non-invasive tests.

We may recommend surgery if other measures to heal the ulcer are not successful. A surgical goal would be to relieve pressure on the affected area.

Complete healing of an ulcer in a patient with diabetes may take weeks or even several months.

Prevention

Preventing an ulcer from developing is its best treatment: