Diabetic foot ulcers are sores that appear on the feet of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. According to Mount Sinai Hospital, about 25 percent of diabetics develop foot ulcers and 80 percent of the people who require foot amputations from diabetic complications first develop ulcers. It is important to diagnose and treat diabetic foot ulcers early to avoid further complications.

Ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers appear when the disease begins to damage the nerves in the foot. These ulcers are typically found at the bottom of the foot. If the sore is allowed to grow and spread out, it may lead to amputation. When a diabetic ulcer first appears, it may be painless. But soon you will begin to experience pain, trouble walking and discoloration of the foot. The sore itself will look like a blister or open sore.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will do a physical exam if you suspect you have a diabetic foot ulcer and possibly refer you to a podiatrist. During your examination, the doctor may take a culture of the ulcer to test for infection. Also, since infection may have spread to the bones of the foot, an X-ray, MRI or CT scan will be taken to determine whether it has spread and to look for abscesses inside the body. Your doctor may also recommend a Doppler test to evaluate the blood flow inside your foot. Finally, a blood count will be taken to check for infection. If there is an elevation in white blood cells, it is usually an indication of an infection.

Care

If you are diagnosed with a diabetic foot ulcer, it is important to treat it immediately and thoroughly. According to Mount Sinai, using Regranex gel is an effective way to speed up healing. It is also important to take pressure off the foot while healing, and in some cases you will be given a special cast or boot to keep pressure off the sore. Making sure the wound does not get infected is a big priority, so you should make sure to clean and change bandages on a regular basis. Your doctor will also prescribe four to six weeks of antibiotics.

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Diabetic Foot Ulcer