Diabetes is a result of your body’s inability to produce or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows your body to turn glucose, or sugar, into energy. If your body has difficulty metabolizing glucose, it can lead to high blood sugar levels. This can affect your body’s ability to heal wounds.
In people with diabetes, wounds tend to heal more slowly and progress more quickly, so it’s important to know what to look out for.
Although cuts, grazes, scratches, and blisters can occur anywhere on the body, the feet are one of the most common places of injury. A small wound on the foot can quickly develop into a foot ulcer.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Foot Ulcer Wound
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 of a foot ulcer.
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.
Signs of foot ulcers are not always obvious. Sometimes, you won’t even show symptoms of ulcers until the ulcer has become infected. Talk to 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.
Tips for the Foot Ulcer Wound Healing Process
To help the healing process along, follow these tips:
Do regular self-checks.
Catching wounds early is the key to avoiding infections and complications. Make sure you do daily self-checks and look for new wounds, especially on your feet. Don’t forget to check in between and under your toes.
Remove dead tissue.
Necrosis (dead cells) and excess tissue often occur with diabetic wounds. This can promote bacteria and toxins and increase wound infection. It can also prevent you from being able to inspect the underlying tissue. Your Podiatrist will often help you with the removal process.
Keep dressings fresh.
Regularly changing dressings can help reduce bacteria and maintain appropriate moisture levels in the wound. Doctors often recommend special wound care dressings.
Keep pressure off the area.
Pressure can cause wear and tear that damages the skin and leads to a deeper wound or ulcer.
Promote Long-Term Health and Healing
The key to successful wound healing is regular podiatric medical care to ensure the following “gold standard” of care:
- Lowering blood sugar
- Appropriate debridement of wounds
- Treating any infection
- Reducing friction and pressure
- Restoring adequate blood flow
There are a few things you can do to boost your immune system and aid in wound healing.
Eat a healthy diet.
Diet has a direct influence on blood sugar levels, so maintaining proper nutrition is key. If you can consistently maintain healthy glucose levels, you’re more likely to avoid wounds and heal faster should a wound occur.
It’s especially important that you get enough protein. Protein helps repair the skin and other tissue that has been damaged.
People with diabetes can often maintain better blood sugar control by avoiding processed carbohydrates, added sugars, and fast food. It also helps to increase your intake of fibre, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Good nutrition provides what your body needs for faster wound healing, such as vitamin C, zinc, and protein.
Stay active.
Exercise can help keep your blood circulating and stimulates blood flow to your legs and feet. It helps improve insulin sensitivity.
This helps sugar in the bloodstream enter your cells more efficiently, which promotes healing and health. However, if you have a foot sore, stay off your feet until it heals.
Quit smoking.
Smoking decreases your cells’ ability to carry oxygen. Smoking also disrupts the immune system and increases your risk of vascular disease.
Prevention of Foot Ulcer Wound
Reducing additional risk factors, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, high cholesterol, and elevated blood glucose, are important in prevention and treatment of a diabetic foot ulcer.
Wearing the appropriate shoes and socks will go a long way in reducing risks. Your podiatrist can provide guidance in selecting the proper shoes.
Closely manage your blood glucose, as your chances of diabetes complications remain low when your blood sugar is stable. You can also help prevent diabetic foot problems by:
· washing your feet every day
· keep toenails adequately trimmed, but not too short
· keeping your feet dry and moisturized
· changing your socks frequently
· seeing a podiatrist for corn and callus removal
· wearing proper-fitting shoes
Foot ulcers can return after they’ve been treated. Scar tissue can become infected if the area is aggravated again, so your doctor may recommend you wear diabetic shoes to prevent ulcers from returning.
Inspect your feet every day especially the sole and between the toes for cuts, bruises, cracks, blisters, redness, ulcers, and any sign of abnormality.
Each time you visit a health-care provider, remove your shoes and socks so your feet can be examined. Any problems that are discovered should be reported to your podiatrist as soon as possible; no matter how simple they may seem to you.
