Early recognition and management of foot ulcers is the utmost important factor when you living with diabetes. Foot ulcers are open wounds or sores that commonly occurs on the bottom of the foot. These ulcers form because of a lack or non-existent feeling of the feet, poor circulation, foot deformities, trauma and irritation. Amputations of the affected toe and foot are the last result when a person living with diabetes does not take care of their foot ulcers and physical health.
If you are living with diabetic foot ulcers, it's important to put every effort into maintaining healthy feet. The sooner you start looking out for your feet, the less susceptible you will be to get diabetic foot ulcers.
Examine your feet every day and make it part of your daily regimen. Look for calluses and keep them as smooth as possible. Use a pumice stone to scrub the dead skin cells. If this skin is not removed, it will be too hard and cracked and may become infected. Look daily for cuts, bruises, color changes, blisters, open sores and swelling as these are often the gateway to diabetic foot ulcers. This may seem like an obvious thing to look out for, but many people living with diabetes lose most or all sensation in their lower limbs. Pay close attention to the soles of your feet, which is often a common place that diabetic foot ulcers originate.
Always wash your feet with soap and water. Wash and dry in between your toes completely and use oil and lotion to keep your skin soft. If you feel any pains with your feet, make an appointment with your doctor to make sure it's not anything too serious. Lastly, avoid putting too much pressure on your feet and wear comfortable shoes.
Few people know about the effects of diabetes and how your body handles the disease. Diabetes can be treatable with the use of insulin, but there is no available cure for any form of the disease. Type 1 diabetes can only be treated with injected insulin and changes in diet and other lifestyle adjustments. Type 2 diabetes is managed with a combination of dietary treatment, supplements and insulin.
Diabetes can cause many complications, ranging from hypoglycemia, cardiovascular disease and chronic renal failure. Another common complication is foot-related wounds called diabetic foot ulcers. Poor healing of wounds, particularly of the feet, can lead to gangrene and amputation of the affected toe or the infected area.
A diabetic foot ulcer is an open wound that commonly occurs at the bottom of the foot in approximately 15 percent of patients with diabetes. They form due to a combination of factors, such as poor circulation, deformities, irritation and lack of feeling in the foot. Nerve damage is also caused by elevated blood glucose levels and the individual often will be unaware of the feeling or the problem.
Once diabetic foot ulcers are noticed, you should immediately seek podiatric medical care so as to reduce the risk of infection and amputation of the affected toe or area. There are five ways to appropriately treat foot ulcers. These include: prevention of foot ulcers, take pressure off of the area, remove dead skin and tissue, apply medication and dressings to the ulcer, and manage blood glucose levels and other health related issues.
There are also ways to keep an ulcer from becoming infected. These factors include keeping blood glucose levels under control, keeping the ulcer clean and bandaged, cleaning the wound daily and not walking around without shoes.