Signs of foot ulcers are not always obvious. Sometimes, you won’t even show symptoms of ulcers until the ulcer has become infected. Talk with your doctor if you begin to see any skin discoloration, especially tissue that has turned black, or feel any pain around an area that appears callused or irritated.
Ulcers in people with diabetes are most commonly caused by:
All people with diabetes are at risk for foot ulcers, which can have multiple causes. Some factors can increase the risk of foot ulcers, including:
Stay off your feet to prevent pain from ulcers. This is called off-loading, and it’s helpful for all forms of diabetic foot ulcers. Pressure from walking can make an infection worse and an ulcer expand.
Your doctor may recommend wearing certain items to protect your feet:
Doctors can remove foot ulcers with a debridement, the removal of dead skin or foreign objects that may have caused the ulcer.
An infection is a serious complication of a foot ulcer and requires immediate treatment. Not all infections are treated the same way. Tissue surrounding the ulcer may be sent to a lab to determine which antibiotic will help. If your doctor suspects a serious infection, they may order an X-ray to look for signs of bone infection.
Infection of a foot ulcer can be prevented with:
Medications
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, antiplatelets, or anticlotting medications to treat your ulcer if the infection progresses even after preventive or antipressure treatments.
Your doctor may recommend that you seek surgical help for your ulcers. A surgeon can help alleviate pressure around your ulcer by shaving down the bone or removing foot abnormalities such as bunions or hammertoes. You will likely not need surgery on your ulcer. However, if no other treatment option can help your ulcer heal, surgery can prevent your ulcer from becoming worse or leading to amputation.
According to a 2017 review article in the New England Journal of Medicine, more than half of diabetic foot ulcers become infected. Approximately 20 percent of moderate to severe foot infections in people with diabetes lead to amputation. Preventive care is crucial.
Closely manage your blood glucose, as your chances of diabetes complications remain low when your blood sugar is stable. You can also help prevent foot problems by:
Foot ulcers can return after they’ve been treated. Scar tissue can become infected if the area is aggravated again, so your doctor may recommend you wear shoes specially designed for people with diabetes to prevent ulcers from returning.
If you begin to see blackened flesh around an area of numbness, see your doctor right away to seek treatment for an infected foot ulcer. If untreated, ulcers can cause abscesses and spread to other areas on your feet and legs.
When caught early, foot ulcers are treatable. See a doctor right away if you develop a sore on your foot, as the likelihood of infection increases the longer you wait. Untreated infections may require amputations. While your ulcers heal, stay off your feet and follow your treatment plan. Diabetic foot ulcers can take several weeks to heal. Ulcers may take longer to heal if your blood sugar is high and constant pressure is applied to the ulcer. Remaining on a diet that helps you meet your glycemic targets and off-loading pressure from your feet is the most effective way to allow your foot ulcers to heal. Once an ulcer has healed, consistent preventive care will help you stop an ulcer from ever returning.
https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetic-foot-pain-and-ulcers-causes-treatments
# diabetic foot, # blood sugar, # diabetes.
