Seeking Help With Your Feet

People with diabetes often have problems with their feet. This condition can cause nerve, circulation, and healing problems. Small problems can turn into bigger ones without the right levels of care.

For example, minor damages on your foot, such as a small cut, can ulcerate. If you don't deal with the initial problem quickly, then you might end up with a more serious problem. Untreated foot ulcers can get so bad that some patients end up having a foot amputated.

If diabetes is impairing your feet's ability to heal effectively, then you should see a podiatrist to get help fixing an ulcer. How can a podiatrist help you do this?

Wound Debridement

If you have an ulcer on your foot, then you usually also have some infected or dead tissue in the area. This tissue won't help your foot heal. In fact, it could help the ulceration spread. If you have some harmful tissue around your ulcer site, then your podiatrist can debride it. They use tools, ultrasound machines, or enzyme solutions to do this. The aim is to clean the wound to improve its healing.

Infection Management

If your ulcer is obviously infected, then your podiatrist might recommend that you take antibiotics. Your impaired healing system and circulation problems make it hard for your body to get rid of these infections without some help. So your podiatrist might work with your doctor to select the right antibiotic treatment. In some cases, they can prescribe medications for you.

During your treatment, you're likely to see your podiatrist for regular checks. They will also clean your ulcer out during these appointments until it starts healing on its own.

Healing Help

If diabetes impairs your own ability to heal, then your podiatrist can give you extra help. For example, they can dress your ulcer with special creams and moist-healing dressings. These dressings keep the ulcer moist and prevent it from completely drying out. This boosts the healing process in the area.

During your initial assessment, your podiatrist might also find that your ulcer isn't healing fast enough because of a pressure problem. For example, if your shoe presses against the ulcer, then it won't heal. It will just continue to get worse. So your podiatrist will give you footwear advice. In some cases, they can prescribe orthotics or braces that you can wear to keep pressure off the site. This also gives it a chance to heal.

If you have problems with a foot ulcer and you are diabetic, then you should get treatment from a podiatrist immediately. They might also recommend that you see your doctor.

Reach out to a diabetic wound care service near you to learn more.