Preventing and treating foot ulcers if you have diabetes

Foot ulcers occur in 15-20% of people with diabetes, so knowing how to prevent them—and treat them if they occur—can be an important part of your health routine.

Prevention

Follow these steps to avoid a foot ulcer:

• Manage blood sugar: Before eating, keep your blood sugar at 80-130 mg/dL before meals and under 180 mg/dL after. A healthy blood sugar level encourages faster healing. Every four minutes, someone in the U.S. loses a limb to diabetes so avoiding foot ulcers is very important.
• Pamper your feet: Do daily foot inspections, using a mirror to see the bottoms of your feet, if necessary. Look for cracks, cuts, blisters and other signs of wounds. Wash your feet daily with mild soap and warm water. Dry thoroughly, especially between your toes, and apply talcum powder to deter blisters.
• Pick the right shoes: Select shoes that are tight enough to keep fabric from rubbing your skin, causing an ulcer. Choose comfortable shoes loose enough so as not to crowd your toes. If you need them, orthopedic shoes can be custom fitted to the size, shape and contours of your feet.
• Don’t smoke: Smoking reduces your circulation, making your blood flow problems worse. It can also decrease the feeling in your feet.
• See your doctor: Have a foot exam at least once a year to inspect your feet for circulatory issues, early signs of nerve damage or other foot problems. 

Treatment

If you develop a foot ulcer, therapeutic options can help. Discuss the best tactic with a wound care specialist. 

• Debridement: This is the surgical removal of unhealthy tissue and bacteria from the wound to promote healing.
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy works by delivering 100% pure oxygen through increased atmospheric pressure in a large, clear, acrylic chamber. This increased oxygen absorption enhances your body’s ability to heal.
• Skin Substitutes: This therapy consists of applying products made of living cells and proteins that can, over time, stimulate wound healing.

Be aware, foot ulcers can start small with a callus or a blister. Be sure to keep your weight off the affected foot as much as possible to avoid any worsening of your ulcer. Be vigilant. The soft tissue of your foot is susceptible to infection, so any problems can spread to muscle and bone quickly.

If you have diabetes and develop a non-healing wound on your foot, the wound care specialists at MercyOne are here to help. After an evaluation, our team will discuss a personalized treatment plan.