Diabetic Foot Ulcers
A diabetic foot ulcer may be a serious health complication for those with diabetes. Such foot ulcers may lead to future health complications, infections, or, worse, possible amputation if not detected and cared for correctly. This article will talk about prevention of any diabetic foot ulcer that may occur, as well as warning signs that you need to call your doctor, and possible treatments they may ask you to undergo to help your foot heal faster:
Prevention
There are several easy steps that you can follow to help prevent the occurrence of diabetic foot ulcers in the first place. Firstly, you will need to carefully inspect your foot on a daily basis for any sign of developing ulcers. This includes blisters or sores, bruises or cuts, firm or hard spots, dry and cracking skin, or redness, warmth, or tenderness in your feet. If you need treatment for your calluses or corns, ask your doctor for advice and do not try to treat them yourself. Wash your feet with mild soap and warm water, daily. You will also want to ask your doctor for tips on trimming your nails. Lastly, always wear shoes that are the correct size and comfortable. If you buy new shoes, you will want to gradually break them in, instead of trying to do it all at once.
Warning Signs
If you see any warning signs of a developing diabetic foot ulcer, you will want to contact your doctor immediately. If you have diagnosed with a diabetic foot ulcer, and notice any increase in redness, heat, or swelling, pus, odor, fever or chills, increased pain or firmness around the wound, or any extra drainage, you will want to contact your doctor. These could be signs of an infection. You will also want to contact them if you notice any change in color of the foot ulcer, if it is white, blue or black. Failure to do this may result in infection and further complication, as well as a much longer healing time.
Possible Treatment
Possible treatment of diabetic foot ulcers normally includes taking the pressure off your ulcer by wearing comfortable, adjustable shoes that fit properly without any kind of pointed toes, as well as dressing the wound. You will want to clean the ulcer daily and keep it covered, not walk as much, use a dressing or bandage that you change daily, monitor your blood sugar levels and keep them in check, and not to walk barefoot anywhere. Wet-to-dry dressings will often be applied that will help to remove some of the effected tissues with each changing. Doctors may also use calcium alginate of growth factor containing dressings, or some type of skin substitute as a dressing, or in conjunction with the dressing. Follow your doctor’s instructions for what type of dressing to use, and how often it should be changed. A medical professional may need to help you. If this is the case, do not attempt to change the dressing or bandage yourself.