When you have diabetes, a small sore can become a big problem. Hard-to-heal wounds, especially on the feet, are a common complication of diabetes.
Take steps to prevent wounds and help them heal. Here’s what you can do to keep your skin healthy and put your best foot forward.
Diabetes and foot sores
Foot sores are more common in people with diabetes. Also known as diabetic ulcers, those sores develop because of:
- Nerve damage: Diabetes can damage nerves — especially in the feet and legs. As a result, you might not feel blisters or sores caused by stubbing your toe or wearing shoes that are too tight. Since you don’t feel the pain, you may not realize there’s a problem — until it’s a bigger issue.
- Slower healing: Diabetes can also weaken your blood vessels. Both of those factors can cause wounds to heal slowly, increasing the chances of infections and other complications.
Treating diabetic ulcers
If you have diabetes and notice a new wound on your feet or legs, don’t try to treat it yourself. Small sores can become infected and grow bigger and harder to treat. See your primary care doctor or a podiatrist (foot doctor) for help.
Doctors have a few tools that can help foot ulcers heal. These include:
- Wound and foot care: Podiatrists and nurses clean wounds and apply special bandages that promote healing.
- Debridement therapy: This treatment removes dead skin and bacteria to speed healing. The doctor might have you soak your feet or use a special solution to dissolve dead tissue from the wound. They might also use metal tools to examine the wound and remove unhealthy tissue.
- Hyperbaric oxygen treatment: Oxygen can help your body heal. The air we breathe contains just 21% oxygen. Inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, you’re exposed to high-pressure, 100% oxygen. The treatment helps injured tissue repair itself more quickly. It may also help fight certain infections.
- Medications: Your doctor might prescribe antibiotics to treat infections or other medicines to speed up healing.
- Taking the weight off: Walking on a wound can cause pain and interfere with healing. Your doctor might recommend wearing a cast or special shoes to ease the pressure. They might also suggest using crutches or a wheelchair until your foot has healed.
Treatment doesn’t just happen in the doctor’s office, though. Things you can do at home to promote healing:
- Get good nutrition: Your body has to work harder when it’s healing wounds and fighting infections. To do that, it needs plenty of fuel. Eat a nutritious, balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, lean protein (like chicken and fish) and whole grains (like brown rice and whole-wheat bread).
- Manage blood sugar: Wounds heal more easily when your blood sugar is well-managed. Follow your doctor’s recommendations to track your blood sugar and keep it from getting too high.
How to minimize scars
Scars are a normal part of healing, and you can’t erase them completely. Yet you can do things to minimize the appearance of scars.
- Don’t delay: The longer you wait to take care of a wound, the harder it is to treat. See your doctor when you first notice a sore or scratch, before it has time to grow or get infected.
- Follow doctor’s orders: Ask your doctor for advice about how and when to clean your wound and change bandages. Following the instructions exactly will help your injury heal as quickly as possible, with the least amount of scarring.
- Use sun protection: If you have scars in exposed areas, like your legs, sunlight can darken them. After the wound has fully healed, apply sunscreen to help it fade more quickly.
Preventing diabetic foot wounds
Many wounds can be prevented, even if you have diabetes. Follow these steps to keep your feet happy and healthy.
- Do a daily check: Get in the habit of checking your feet each time you shower or put on your shoes. If you notice a sore that’s been there for more than a day or two, check in with your doctor or a podiatrist.
- Wash up: Clean your feet daily in warm water. Dry them well and apply moisturizer to prevent cracks in the skin. (Skip the lotion between your toes, which could cause moisture to build up and lead to an infection.)
- Choose the right shoes: Nobody wants a blister. Choose supportive shoes that aren’t too tight and don’t rub against your feet. Don’t go barefoot. Avoid flip-flops or other open-toed shoes that expose your feet to scrapes and bumps.
- Quit smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels and increases the risk of getting hard-to-heal wounds. If you use tobacco, talk to your doctor for resources to help you quit.
- See an expert: People with diabetes should see a podiatrist once a year. Regular checkups can catch problems early, before they become serious. Podiatrists and nurses can also help with regular foot care, such as trimming toenails and treating calluses.
If you need help healing, we’re here to assist. MLK Community Healthcare’s outpatient Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center offers advanced care for hard-to-treat wounds. Call 424-338-8936 to make an appointment.