DIABETES AND CHRONIC FOOT WOUNDS
Anyone’s feet can become injured, whether it’s because you stepped on a broken piece of glass in your home or you scratched your foot in your garden when walking barefoot. But diabetics need to be especially wary of any foot wound, which can go from a minor cut to a chronic wound that doesn’t heal (foot ulcer) and may necessitate an amputation.
Diabetics are at risk for chronic foot wounds for a number of reasons. For one, high blood sugar levels damage nerves in the legs and feet. This, in turn, makes it difficult for the diabetic to even feel the sensation that they injured their foot. Furthermore, nerve damage also negatively affects the function of sweat glands, so that the skin in the foot dries out, something that makes it more likely to crack and allow an infection to occur. Finally, diabetes contributes to a narrowing of blood vessels in the legs, something that impairs the body’s ability to heal any wounds that occur in the foot. As a result, a minor cut could grow in size and require hospitalization to treat it.
Here are some tips to reduce the risk of developing a foot ulcer, and to treat an ulcer that has already formed:
See your podiatrist every year to check the health of your feet, including to determine whether you have nerve damage, as well as your risk for a narrowing of the arteries in your legs (peripheral artery disease). If you do develop an open sore anywhere on your foot, see your physician who will recommend keeping weight off it by wearing a special cast, boot or other surgical footwear. You should follow your podiatrist’s instructions for keeping the wound clean with daily care. If the wound doesn’t heal after three to four weeks, special wound therapy may be needed to improve healing
If your diabetes is affecting your feet there could be serious life-altering complications. If you notice tingling or any of the changes listed above, click here to set up an appointment with our team at River Podiatry.
River Podiatry, with locations in Pearl River NY, and Midland Park NJ, provides comprehensive, treatment of patients with podiatric issues. The practice specializes in foot surgery and the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Expect the best possible care utilizing the most modern techniques.
