Diabetic Ulcer Prevention

There are some steps that people with diabetes can take to prevent ulcers and other serious complications with their feet.

According to an article published in American Family Physician, diabetic ulcers are the most common foot injury that can lead to amputation of the foot.

Foot problems in diabetics occur because many people with this disease have nerve damage in their legs and feet. If they have a sore or problem that would be noticed by someone who did not have this disease, people with diabetes may not notice that their shoe has caused a blister or that they have stepped on something that punctured their skin, for example.

Preventive Care

If you are living with diabetes, you will want to check your feet every morning and night to make sure that you have not injured them in any way. Any time a minor foot problem develops, even a corn, callous or bunion, it is important to make an appointment with your podiatrist to have the problem taken care of immediately.

Healing is often slower in diabetics, so it could take a long time for a problem or injury to heal. Keeping blood sugar levels stable and under control is the best way to avoid having problems with your feet, but it is also very important to get immediate treatment if an issue develops.

Risk of Amputation

Foot ulcers, or open sores that do not heal, are the most common cause of foot amputation in diabetics. Someone with diabetes, either type 1 or type 2, has 15 to 46 times more of a chance of having a lower extremity amputated than someone without diabetes.

Foot complications also account for up to 25 percent of hospital admissions associated with diabetes in the U.S., according to the journal article. Diabetic foot care that includes checking your feet daily plus regular visits with your podiatrist can prevent these serious complications.

Proper Footwear

Wearing shoes that fit is another important part of foot care for diabetics. If shoes do not fit your feet properly, they rub on your skin and can result in the formation of an ulcer. This can easily be overlooked until it becomes a real problem that could take weeks to heal. Your podiatrist may give you a prescription for shoes that will fit your feet if they have changed because of diabetes.

Diabetic socks are made not to cut off circulation or cause your feet to swell. Daily foot care is one of the most important things you can do for yourself if you are a diabetic.

Source: American Family Physician