Diabetic Foot Ulcers WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Close Print this page

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1 Close Print this page Diabetic Foot Ulcers WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Diabetic foot ulcers are deep wounds that occur on the foot of a person with diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic (long term) illness that occurs when your body does not make enough insulin. Diabetes also occurs if your body does not use the insulin it makes properly. Insulin is a hormone that allows your cells to use the sugar in your blood for energy. Lack of working insulin leads to high blood sugar levels. Increased blood sugar levels may damage your blood vessels or nerves leading to skin and tissue breakdown. Body parts such as your foot and leg Living with Diabetes If you re treating type 2 diabetes, find more resources & support here. a k in gaction.com Neuropathy Treatment Free Sample! New Upgraded Formula. Clinically Proven. 92% Success Rate urop a thyt re a tm e ntgrou p.com Diabetic Foot Problems? New foot treatment helps repair bone damage. Osteoset can help. t.com /graftjacket Blood Sugar Levels Simple Tips & Tricks To Keep Your Blood Sugar Levels Healthy. HealthDesk.com may not get enough blood or have normal sensation (feeling). Diabetic foot ulcers are more likely to become infected and may not heal. The ulcer may cause the tissues in your foot and leg to die. With diabetes, anything that can injure your foot may lead to an ulcer. Shoes that are too tight or do not fit well can rub against your skin and cause a sore. Dry skin, blisters, scratches and calluses can also cause diabetic foot ulcers. You may also get a wound from stepping on a sharp object or from an insect bite. An ulcer may also start from a burn injury. A foot ulcer may make it hard for you to do your normal daily activities. Your caregiver will do a foot exam to check your ulcer. He may measure the size of your ulcer and how deep it is. Blood tests, a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and arterial Doppler may be done. Treatment is done to prevent worsening of your wound and cure any infection. Treatments may include medicines, surgery, special foot devices, and procedures to improve wound healing. Having your diabetic foot ulcer treated may decrease your symptoms such as pain and trouble walking. Treatment may help you return to your usual activities. Treatment may allow your foot ulcer to heal and decrease your risk for losing your foot. drugs.com/ /diabetic-foot-ulcers-disc 1/6

2 AFTER YOU LEAVE: Medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not stop taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver. You may need different medicines to help your ulcer heal, fight infection, and control your diabetes. You may also need medicines to treat other health problems that occur with diabetes. Your caregiver may give you any of the following: Antibiotics: This medicine is given to fight or prevent an infection caused by bacteria. Anti-platelets: Antiplatelet medicines may be needed to prevent clots from forming in your blood. Cholesterol medicine: Cholesterol medicine is given to decrease the amount of cholesterol (fat) in your blood. Cholesterol may weaken or block your arteries. Insulin: This medicine may be given to decrease the amount of sugar in your blood. It helps your body move the sugar to your cells, where it is needed for energy. Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to take at home to take away or decrease pain. Your caregiver will tell you how much to take and how often to take it. Take the medicine exactly as directed by your caregiver. Do not wait until the pain is too bad before taking your medicine. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Tell caregivers if the pain medicine does not help, or if your pain comes back too soon. Vasodilators: Vasodilators are given to widen your blood vessels and improve blood flow. Follow-up visit information: Activity: Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Bring any special devices or footwear to your follow-up visits so your caregiver can check them. You may need many follow-up visits to check how your wound is healing. Your caregiver may measure your wound area to see if it is getting smaller. During your visits, tell your caregiver about any new symptoms you are having. Your caregiver may order blood tests to check your health and blood sugar level. He may also do an ultrasound or Doppler test to check the blood flow to your foot. If your ulcer has dead tissue around it, your caregiver may remove it during your visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit. You may need to stay in bed for a period of time while your ulcer heals. Walking and putting pressure on your foot may prevent wound healing and cause another wound. You may need to keep your foot raised while in bed to decrease swelling and improve healing. Your caregiver may also have you dangle your foot if you have poor blood flow. Ask your caregiver about what kind of activity is OK for you. Bathing and showering: You may need to stay away from baths and showers while your foot heals. Baths and showers may cause your wound covering to become soiled and increase your risk for infection. drugs.com/ /diabetic-foot-ulcers-disc 2/6

3 Physical therapy: When you are able, your caregiver may have you to start physical therapy. A physical therapist will help you with special exercises. These exercises help make your bones and muscles stronger. If your foot or leg was amputated, therapy may help you return to your daily activities. Wound care: Do not put dressings or bandages on your wound that will stick to your foot. Follow your caregiver's instructions about how to care for your wound. Diabetic foot care: Taking good care of your feet may prevent ulcers, or prevent ulcers from getting worse. Follow your caregiver's instructions about foot care. You may also do the following: Check your feet everyday for any blisters, scratches, sores, or calluses. Make sure you look at all areas of your feet. This includes the bottoms of your feet, and between and under all your toes. Use a mirror or ask someone for help if you cannot see all areas of your feet. Wash your feet daily with soap and warm (not hot) water. Always dry your feet after washing including between your toes. Use a lotion or moisturizer after washing your feet. Do not put lotion or moisturizer between your toes or on any wound. Ask your caregiver for more information about which lotions or moisturizers to use. File or cut your toenails straight across after bathing or showering. Use a soft brush to clean around your toenails. Do not cut your toenails with a sharp, pointed instrument, such as a scissors. Using sharp objects to cut your toenails can cause wounds that may lead to ulcers. If your toenails are thick, you may need to have a caregiver cut them. You may also need a caregiver to cut your toenails if you are at high risk for foot ulcers. drugs.com/ /diabetic-foot-ulcers-disc 3/6

4 Do not walk barefoot or wear your shoes without socks. Before you put on your shoes, always check if there are rocks or other objects inside that can hurt your feet. Wear socks made of cotton to help keep your feet dry. Wear socks without toe seams, or wear socks with the seams inside out. Change your socks daily. Do not wear socks that are dirty or damp (not dry). Do not try to remove corns or calluses yourself. Talk to your caregiver if you have corns or calluses. Do not warm your feet with hot water bottles or anything that gives off heat. If you have decreased feeling in your feet, you are at a higher risk for burns. Wellness hints: Check your blood sugar levels: Make sure you check your blood sugar levels as often as your caregiver tells you to. Your caregiver will tell you what your blood sugar level should be. Keeping your blood sugar normal decreases your risk for health problems, including foot ulcers. Keep a diary of your blood sugar levels with the date and time that you checked them. The diary will show how well you are managing your diabetes. Check your blood pressure: Have your blood pressure checked regularly. Keeping your blood pressure at the level your caregiver suggests may prevent damage to your blood vessels. Eat healthy foods: Eat a variety of healthy foods every day. Choose foods lower in sugar, fat, and cholesterol. Your caregiver can help you plan a diet. Eating healthy foods may help you feel better and have more energy. Drink enough liquid: Drinking enough liquid may help improve the oxygen in your tissues and decrease your risk for foot ulcers. Talk to your caregiver about how much liquid you should drink each day. Keep a healthy weight: Maintaining a healthy weight decreases the amount of force and pressure you put on your feet. Talk to your caregiver if you need help losing weight. Quit smoking: Quitting smoking may improve the blood flow to your legs and feet. If you smoke, you are also more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer. You will help yourself and those around you by not smoking. Ask your caregiver for more information about how to stop smoking if you are having trouble quitting. Wear proper fitting shoes: Wear shoes that do not rub against any area of your feet. Ask your caregiver for help in choosing shoes that fit you best. If your caregiver orders you special shoes, make sure you wear them. drugs.com/ /diabetic-foot-ulcers-disc 4/6

5 For more support and information: A diabetic foot ulcer can be life-changing condition for you and your family. Accepting that you may not be able to do the things you normally did before may be hard. You may feel lonely, sad, and angry. Having to depend on others may make you feel guilty. You may be bothered by how you look in special footwear. All of these feelings are normal. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings. Learning as much as you can about diabetic foot ulcers may help prevent future problems with your feet. You may want to join a support group. This is a group of people who also have diabetes. Contact any of the following: American Diabetes Association 1701 North Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA Phone: Web Address: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 1 Information Way Bethesda, MD Phone: Web Address: CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF: You cannot make it to your follow-up visit. You see any new blisters, cuts, scratches, or sores on your foot. You see hard areas of skin on your foot. Your toenails become thick, curled, or look yellow. You have new numbness in your feet or legs. Your blood sugar is higher or lower than your caregiver recommends. You have questions or concerns about your condition, treatment, or care. SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF: You have a fever or chills. drugs.com/ /diabetic-foot-ulcers-disc 5/6

6 You feel pain in a foot that used to have little or no feeling. Your foot ulcer has a bad smell or is draining pus. Your foot becomes red, warm, and swollen. Your foot feels cold and looks pale (colorless). You see any black or dead tissue in or around your ulcer. Your ulcer becomes bigger, deeper, or does not heal. Copyright Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you. drugs.com/ /diabetic-foot-ulcers-disc 6/6