Department of hand surgery & Microsurgery.

Diabetic Foot

Causes Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

An Ulcer Is An Open Sore Or Wound On The Skin. Ulcers On The Feet Are Particularly Common In Those Who Have Diabetes. Complications From The Disease – Such As Poor Circulation And Loss Of Feeling (Neuropathy) In The Feet Due To Diabetes-related Nerve Damage – Make It More Likely For A Wound To Develop, And Also Harder To Heal.

People With Diabetes Who Use Insulin, Have Diabetes-related Kidney, Eye Or Heart Disease, Or Who Are Overweight, Use Alcohol Or Tobacco Have An Even Higher Risk Of Developing Foot Ulcers.

Diabetic Foot Ulcer Symptoms

Normally A Wound Or Sore On The Skin Would Cause Pain. But The Same Loss Of Feeling In The Feet That Often Contributes To The Development Of A Diabetic Foot Ulcer Means That There’s Often No Pain Associated With The Ulcer. This Can Make It Difficult For People To Realize That An Ulcer Is Even There In The Early Stages, When Treatment Is Most Effective.

Aside From Pain, Another Sign To Look For Is Discharge Or Drainage From The Wound In The Socks. Ulcers That Have Been Present For Some Time And That Have Become Infected May Also Cause An Unpleasant Odor.

How To Prevent Diabetic Foot Ulcers

The First Line Of Defense In Preventing Diabetic Wounds Is To Follow The Guidelines Recommended To Keep The Disease Itself Under Control:

  • Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels Through A Healthy Diet And By Taking Medications As Instructed By Your Doctor.
  • Keep Your Blood Pressure Within A Healthy Range.
  • Avoid Alcohol And Tobacco.

You Should Also Take Measures To Avoid Causing Sores Or Wounds On The Feet:

  • Never Walk Barefoot.
  • Wear Shoes That Fit Properly And Don’t Rub The Skin.
  • Wash Your Feet Daily With Mild Soap And Lukewarm Water To Prevent The Buildup Of Bacteria On The Skin, Which Can Cause Infection Even In The Tiniest Skin Breaks.

Because A Loss Of Sensation In The Feet May Mean There’s No Pain Felt Even When An Ulcer Is Present, It’s Also Extremely Important For Those With Diabetes To Regularly Check For Any Foot Sores Or Skin Irritation. This Way, The Ulcer Can Be Properly Treated As Early As Possible.

Treatment Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

If A Diabetic Foot Ulcer Does Occur, It’s Important To Seek Medical Care As Soon As Possible; This Is Not A Wound You Should Attempt To Treat At Home On Your Own. The Faster A Foot Ulcer Is Properly Treated, The Greater Chance It Will Heal Completely And Without Infection Or Complications.

A Diabetic Wound Care Specialist Trained In Microsurgery Can Provide The Most Advanced And Comprehensive Diabetic Wound Treatment. Your Primary Care Physician Can Provide A Referral To The Wound Care Center. Our Wound Care Team Will Then Continue Working Hand-in-hand With Your Doctor Throughout The Wound Treatment Process.

Our Specialized Diabetic Wound Treatment Services Include:

  • Wound Offloading, Which Is The Removal Of Any Weight Or Pressure From The Wound To Allow It To Heal. This Is Achieved Through The Use Of A Wheelchair, Crutches, Or Specialized Footgear Or Braces
  • Debridement, Which Is The Removal Of Dead Skin And Tissue
  • Specialized Dressings That Are Designed To Help The Skin Heal, Including “Skin Substitutes” And Collagen-infused Dressings That Provide The Cellular Building Blocks That Are Necessary For The Growth Of New And Healthy Skin
  • Specialized Dressings That Are Designed To Remove Excess Moisture From The Wound As Well As Dressings Infused With Antibiotic Medication To Treat And Prevent Infection
  • Vaccum Assisted Closure (Vac) , Which Involves Applying Negative Suction Force To Promote Wound Healing. The Results Of Vac Therapy Are Very Promising.
  • Surgical Revascularization, Which Improves Blood Flow To The Area So That The Skin Can Heal Properly.
  • Flap Cover : Flaps Are Tissues From Nearby Or Other Parts Of Body Which Are Used To Cover A Wound, Which Otherwise Will Not Heal With Dressings.
  • Skin Graft Cover : Some Wounds May Be So Big That Healing On Its Own May Not Be Easy. Applying A Skin Graft Will Fasten The Recovery Process.