Diabetes and Your Feet
Normally, if you injure your foot, you feel pain that tells you that you have an injury. You then take steps to treat it: clean the wound, apply an ointment and cover it with a bandage. Your body continues the healing process, and your foot heals well. However, for the 38.4 million Americans who have diabetes, that’s not always the case.1
What is a diabetes-related foot ulcer?
A diabetes-related foot ulcer is an open sore on your foot that fails to heal. It often occurs on the bottom of your feet but can occur anywhere skin or tissue breaks down or is cut open. Once you have had one, you are more likely to develop another.
Having diabetes puts you at a much greater risk for foot ulcers. If you have poor circulation in your legs and feet, high blood sugar or both, healing slows down. In addition, if you have nerve damage, your feet may feel numb or have no feeling at all. In either case, injury may be painless, and blisters, cuts or sores can go unnoticed. Left untreated, these small breaks in the skin can turn into larger, more problematic wounds.
Why are diabetes-related foot ulcers so harmful to me?
Diabetes-related foot ulcers can be downright dangerous. In the best circumstances, it takes weeks to several months for a diabetic foot ulcer to heal. In some cases, you may need surgery to remove tissue that has died. If infection spreads throughout your body, or severe ligament, muscle and bone damage occurs, amputation may be necessary.
What can I do if I have a diabetes-related foot ulcer?
It’s important to never underestimate a wound—even a minor one—as a simple callus could be the tip of the iceberg that leads to a serious non-healing wound. If you or a loved one has diabetes and develops a non-healing wound on your foot, Patterson Health Center Advanced Wound Healing is here to help!
After a thorough evaluation, which may include diagnostic testing, the staff will discuss a personalized treatment plan, which may include special dressings, appropriate offloading devices or other advanced therapies.
For more information about our wound care services or to schedule an appointment, call 620-914-1234 or visit https://pattersonhc.org/services/advanced-wound-healing today.
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