Learning About Podiatry Treatments

Why You're At Risk Of Foot Wounds When You Have Diabetes And The Treatments That Can Help

4 April 2018

Raul Wheeler

Diabetes affects every part of your body, from your eyes to your feet. It also affects your blood circulation and your organs. One common complication of diabetes is poor circulation in your feet; this situation is compounded by nerve damage caused by diabetes, so your feet are at risk of infections and ulcers. Here's why diabetic wounds develop and how your podiatrist may treat them.

The Cause Of Diabetic Wounds

When you have poor sensation in your feet, you can injure the skin or tissues and not even know it. Something simple such as a wrinkle in your sock could cause a blister that becomes infected. Ulcers can develop from the pressure caused by shoes and socks. Diabetic ulcers are serious problems because in some cases they can lead to the amputation of a toe or your foot. One reason diabetic wounds are so serious is that they can't heal properly due to the low amount of blood flow; adequate circulation is needed to nourish the tissues and to provide oxygen. Without the healing effects of circulation, ulcers get deeper and larger, and the skin around the wound begins to die.

The Possible Treatments For Diabetic Wounds

Examining your feet daily is important so you can detect small wounds and seek help from a podiatrist while they're still small. Staying off of your feet by using a wheelchair may help at first, so the pressure of standing and wearing shoes doesn't reduce blood flow. Your podiatrist may begin treating the ulcer or wound right away, even if there is no infection present; this is to prevent an infection from developing that could have serious consequences. You might be given daily medication to apply to the wound at home. Although you may not want to wear your regular shoes while you are treating an ulcer, you also don't want to go barefoot, as that could expose the wound to bacteria more easily.

If the tissue around the ulcer is already dying or infected, the podiatrist may scrape away the dead tissue so the healthy tissue can be treated. You might need antibiotics for the infection, and you'll be encouraged to keep your blood sugar readings controlled to help with healing. Your podiatrist may place you in the hospital so you can undergo professional wound care to keep the ulcer from getting worse. If the ulcer gets bad and doesn't heal, the last resort could be amputation. Other types of surgery could be suggested as well; if you have a toe joint that is disfigured and causing constant problems with irritation and wounds, correcting the joint with surgery might lower the risk of future ulcers in the area.

If you don't go to the hospital for wound treatment, you may need to treat the wound at home for several weeks until it heals. You'll want to follow the advice of your podiatrist so infections are kept at bay and you reduce the risk of making the ulcer larger.

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