Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Causes and Treatments – Healthline

Foot ulcers are a common complication of diabetes that is not being managed through methods such as diet, exercise, and insulin treatment. Ulcers are formed as a result of skin tissue breaking down and exposing the layers underneath.

Theyre most common under your big toes and the balls of your feet, and they can affect your feet down to the bones.

All people with diabetes can develop foot ulcers, but good foot care can help prevent them. Treatment for diabetic foot ulcers varies depending on their causes.

Discuss any foot concerns with your doctor to ensure its not a serious problem, as infected ulcers can result in amputation if neglected.

One of the first signs of a foot ulcer is drainage from your foot that might stain your socks or leak out in your shoe. Unusual swelling, irritation, redness, and odors from one or both feet are also common early symptoms.

The most visible sign of a serious foot ulcer is black tissue (called eschar) surrounding the ulcer. This forms because of an absence of healthy blood flow to the area around the ulcer.

Partial or complete gangrene, which refers to tissue death due to infections, can appear around the ulcer. In this case, odorous discharge, pain, and numbness can occur.

Signs of foot ulcers are not always obvious. Sometimes, you wont even show symptoms of ulcers until the ulcer has become infected.

Talk with your doctor if you begin to see any skin discoloration, especially tissue that has turned black, or feel any pain around an area that appears callused or irritated.

Your doctor will likely identify the seriousness of your ulcer on a scale of 0 to 5 using the Wagner Ulcer Classification System:

Ulcers in people with diabetes are most commonly caused by:

Poor blood circulation is a form of vascular disease in which blood doesnt flow to your feet efficiently. Poor circulation can also make it more difficult for ulcers to heal.

High glucose levels can slow the healing process of an infected foot ulcer, so blood sugar management is critical. People with type 2 diabetes and other ailments often have a harder time fighting off infections from ulcers.

Nerve damage is a long-term effect and can lead to a loss of feeling in your feet. Damaged nerves can feel tingly and painful. Nerve damage reduces sensitivity to foot pain and results in painless wounds that can cause ulcers.

Ulcers can be identified by drainage from the affected area and sometimes a noticeable lump that isnt always painful.

All people with diabetes are at risk for foot ulcers, which can have multiple causes. Some factors can increase the risk of foot ulcers, including:

Diabetic foot ulcers are also most common in older men.

Stay off your feet to prevent pain from ulcers. This is called off-loading, and its helpful for all forms of diabetic foot ulcers. Pressure from walking can make an infection worse and an ulcer expand.

Your doctor may recommend wearing certain items to protect your feet:

Doctors can remove foot ulcers with a debridement, the removal of dead skin or foreign objects that may have caused the ulcer.

An infection is a serious complication of a foot ulcer and requires immediate treatment. Not all infections are treated the same way.

Tissue surrounding the ulcer may be sent to a lab to determine which antibiotic will help. If your doctor suspects a serious infection, they may order an X-ray to look for signs of bone infection.

Infection of a foot ulcer can be prevented with:

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, antiplatelets, or anticlotting medications to treat your ulcer if the infection progresses even after preventive or antipressure treatments.

Many of these antibiotics attack Staphylococcus aureus,bacteria known to cause staph infections, or -haemolytic Streptococcus, which is normally found in your intestines.

Talk with your doctor about other health conditions you have that might increase your risk of infections by these harmful bacteria, including HIV and liver problems.

Your doctor may recommend that you seek surgical help for your ulcers. A surgeon can help alleviate pressure around your ulcer by shaving down the bone or removing foot abnormalities such as bunions or hammertoes.

You will likely not need surgery on your ulcer. However, if no other treatment option can help your ulcer heal, surgery can prevent your ulcer from becoming worse or leading to amputation.

According to a 2017 review article in the New England Journal of Medicine, more than half of diabetic foot ulcers become infected. Approximately 20 percent of moderate to severe foot infections in people with diabetes lead to amputation. Preventive care is crucial.

Closely manage your blood glucose, as your chances of diabetes complications remain low when your blood sugar is stable. You can also help prevent foot problems by:

Foot ulcers can return after theyve been treated. Scar tissue can become infected if the area is aggravated again, so your doctor may recommend you wear shoes specially designed for people with diabetes to prevent ulcers from returning.

If you begin to see blackened flesh around an area of numbness, see your doctor right away to seek treatment for an infected foot ulcer. If untreated, ulcers can cause abscesses and spread to other areas on your feet and legs.

At this point, ulcers can often only be treated by surgery, amputation, or replacement of lost skin by synthetic skin substitutes.

When caught early, foot ulcers are treatable. See a doctor right away if you develop a sore on your foot, as the likelihood of infection increases the longer you wait. Untreated infections may require amputations.

While your ulcers heal, stay off your feet and follow your treatment plan. Diabetic foot ulcers can take several weeks to heal.

Ulcers may take longer to heal if your blood sugar is high and constant pressure is applied to the ulcer.

Remaining on a diet that helps you meet your glycemic targets and off-loading pressure from your feet is the most effective way to allow your foot ulcers to heal.

Once an ulcer has healed, consistent preventive care will help you stop an ulcer from ever returning.

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Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Causes and Treatments - Healthline