Diagnosis And Treatments For Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Posted on: 27 September 2021
Diabetic foot ulcers can occur in those who have long-standing hyperglycemia and poorly managed diabetes. They can even develop in diabetics who have tight control over their blood sugar levels. Diabetic foot ulcers often develop on the soles of the feet; however, they can also form on the ankles and heels of the feet.
If not recognized and treated early on, diabetic foot ulcers can become infected, and in severe cases, foot amputation may be necessary if the wound becomes gangrenous. If you are a diabetic, it is essential that you see your podiatrist regularly for foot examinations. Here are some ways your podiatrist can diagnose and treat your diabetic foot ulcers.
Diagnosing Diabetic Foot Ulcers
During your foot examination, your podiatrist will examine your feet for red areas, blisters, pain, inflammation, open wounds, and drainage. While diabetic foot ulcers can become very deep, affecting the underlying muscle and bone, they typically start as small red areas or blisters in their early stages.
Your doctor will also ask you if your feet are numb or if you experience numbness and tingling sensations. If you do, you may be at a greater risk for developing foot ulcers related to your diabetes because these symptoms often indicate poor circulation.
If your podiatrist notices any drainage or foul odor emanating from a sore on your foot, a diagnosis of an infected diabetic foot ulcer may be confirmed. Sores on the feet caused by trauma or tight shoes generally do not cause drainage or odors. It is not uncommon, however, for diabetic foot ulcers to drain pus-containing liquid, which has an offensive odor.
Treatment Options
Your podiatrist will recommend a treatment plan for your foot ulcers based on their severity or stage. Your foot doctor will tell you that while effective podiatric treatment options are available, you will need to work with your diabetes doctor to maintain control of your blood glucose levels to help prevent future ulcers and to maintain optimal circulation in your lower extremities.
Your podiatric physician may recommend that you avoid tight-fitting shoes to keep pressure off your feet. In addition, topical or oral antibiotics may be prescribed to hasten the healing of infected ulcers. Your healthcare provider may also cleanse your ulcers with a special solution and then cover the area with a sterile dressing.
If you have a Stage IV ulcer, your treatment may include surgical debridement of the affected areas. Debridement is a surgical procedure that removes dead tissue and skin from the ulcer. Once this dead, or necrotic, tissue has been removed, your diabetic ulcer will start to heal.
If you have diabetes, see your podiatrist on a regular basis for foot examinations. When diabetic foot ulcers are recognized and treated in their early stages, you are less like to experience complications such as severe infection, soft tissue damage, and amputation.
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