Approximately two million people worldwide suffer from diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetic foot ulcers are the leading cause of non-traumatic foot amputations in the industrialized world. Roughly, 25 percent of hospitalized diabetics receive treatment for their feet.
Prevention is the best way to avoid dealing with diabetic foot ulcers. Proper foot care and attention to cuts, abrasions and blisters as they arise can prevent serious wounds from forming. If you suffer from peripheral neuropathy, it is particularly important to take care of your feet.
The following steps can help to prevent diabetic foot ulcers:
- See your doctor often. It is important to keep your diabetes under control, and to monitor the progression of your disease.
- Check your feet several times every day, and have your doctor check your feet when you see him. Treat any scrapes, cuts, blisters, or abrasions immediately. Wash with soap and water and don’t break the blisters. Put antibiotic cream on the wounds several times a day and see your doctor if it does not heal.
- Keep your feet clean and dry.
- Make sure your shoes and socks fit appropriately. Ask your doctor if you should have special diabetic shoes fitted. Be careful with all new shoes when first in use. Inspect feet carefully after small periods of use for areas of redness indicating rubbing. If these develop contact your foot specialist.
- Treat calluses and corns properly.
- Cut toenails straight across the toe. If you have problems with your vision, do not attempt to cut your own toenails. Seek the aid of a family member or foot specialist.
- Treat athlete’s foot.
- Do not use heating pads or hot-water soaks on your feet.
- Improve circulation to your feet through regular exercise.
- Visit a podiatrist on a regular basis.
Untreated, a diabetic foot ulcer can lead to very serious complications, including gangrene, amputation, or compicated illness. Therefore, you must treat foot ulcers promptly.
Proper management of diabetes mellitus helps a patient reduce their chances of developing diabetes-related complications, including foot ulcers. Practice good glucose control, and see your doctor frequently.
Treating a diabetic foot ulcer involves debridement of the unhealthy tissue in the wound bed and removal of the callous around the edges of the ulcer. Your doctor may debride the wound several times to keep it clean and allow new cells to fill in the ulcer. If your doctor suspects an infection, he may order bllod tests and X-rays, and may recommend antibiotics.
Your doctor will choose dressings prevent the wound bed from drying out or that absorb drainage from the ulcer, depending on the patient's individual needs. Dressing a wound helps protect it and acts as a barrier to prevent contamination. Advances in tissue engineering, growth factorsand antimicrobials have paved the way for more advanced treatments. Your doctor may consider using advanced products when foot ulcers have a difficult time healing.
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