If you’re living with diabetes, one area of the body you need to be especially aware of is your feet. We’ve all likely taken our feet for granted at one time or another, but people living with diabetes are at particular risk for a non-healing diabetic foot ulcer, a potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes.
What are diabetic foot ulcers? A diabetic foot ulcer is a wound, or sore, on the foot of someone living with diabetes. If left untreated, these ulcers can lead to severe infections that may result in amputation. Because the consequences of not treating a diabetic foot ulcer are so potentially dire, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as you realize an ulcer is present.
Seek Immediate Treatment If You Have a Non-Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcer
If you’re concerned that you have a non-healing diabetic foot ulcer, make an appointment to see your doctor, and read more to educate yourself.
What Are Diabetic Sores And Foot Ulcers?
Diabetic sores and foot ulcers are an issue commonly faced by those living with diabetes. They are wounds on the feet, and around 15-25% of people with diabetes develop them. They may start as a small injury, like a cut, a blister, or dry and cracked skin.
If you have diabetic peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage caused by your diabetes) you’re at a greater risk of developing a diabetic sore or ulcer. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy starts as an abnormal sensation in your feet, which can spread to your legs. Around half the people who develop diabetic foot ulcers also have peripheral artery disease (PAD). This is a blockage of your arteries in the legs.
If you do develop diabetic sores or foot ulcers they are best treated by medical professionals, including your GP, a diabetes specialist, or a foot specialist (such as the staff at Northwich Foot Clinic).
Non-Healing Diabetic Sores
Failure to effectively treat a diabetic sore can lead to extreme complications, so it’s vital that you get any sores healing as swiftly as possible. Studies have found that the longer it takes for a diabetic patient to seek professional help for a sore or ulcer, the more likely it is to develop into a non-healing wound.
Prevention, in this case, is always better than cure – as soon as you realise you have a sore or foot ulcer, seek professional help. If you have diabetes, check your feet for sores regularly so that you are aware of any issues as quickly as possible and can seek professional help. Remember, your diabetes may cause damage to the nerves in your feet, so you may not feel any issues going on down there. Visually inspect your feet daily.
When treated promptly you have a good chance that your sore or ulcer will heal. Ensure you keep your feet clean and dry, and follow the advice of your foot doctor. Attending all check up and follow up appointments to ensure that healing is complete is vital; many visit a professional for help once, assume the issue is resolved, and forget about it until it becomes a bigger problem. By then, it’s often too late.
A non-healing core or ulcer can lead to a chronic infection, gangrene, or even – at the most extreme – amputation – so be sure to take them seriously and be vigilant!
If you have sore or ulcer on your foot don’t delay – book an appointment today and let one of our professionals help you heal.
