“I have a sore on my foot that won’t heal and I’m a diabetic.
What should I do?”
First of all, let’s go over some facts. One of the most serious complications of diabetes is the formation of a diabetic foot ulcer. A diabetic foot ulcer is an open wound (sore) located below the ankle in an individual with either type I or type II diabetes. One in six diabetic patients will develop a diabetic foot ulcer in their lifetime, and of those, one in four will require an amputation. Each year, approximately 80-90,000 lower extremity amputations are performed in the U.S. due to complications from diabetes. This number represents over half of ALL amputations performed in the U.S. each year!
These ulcers occur most commonly in diabetic patients who have neuropathy. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to neuropathy, which is the loss feeling in the toes and feet due to nerve damage and impaired blood flow. Patients with neuropathy may be unable to feel blisters, ingrowing toenails, callouses or sores on their feet. Unnoticed and untreated, such sores can worsen and invite infection. In addition, nerve damage from diabetes can lead to muscle damage. When the foot muscles fail to keep the bones in their proper position, the bones can become deformed and prominent. This causes increased chances of forming pressure points on the feet and, in turn, formation of more wounds.
The most important thing you can do when you discover you have a sore that won’t heal is to contact a foot and ankle specialist that is trained in the treatment of diabetic ulcers. Do not wait and try to treat it yourself. These ulcers, when left untreated, can cause infections that can extend to the bone. The longer the ulcer is left untreated, the more extensive the infection becomes. While the ulcer “doesn’t look that bad” on the outside, unseen damage is being caused internally.
The most important thing to remember is that all diabetic foot ulcers DO NOT end up requiring an amputation! Treatment for these wounds has advanced tremendously. Some ulcers can be treated at the physician’s office, while others require more advanced treatment at a wound center. Wound centers have specialized physicians, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, physical therapists and diabetic nurse educators that are involved in the care of each patient. Advanced treatments including specialty wound care products, skin grafting, total contact casting and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are used to heal the ulcer. With advanced treatment programs, there is a healing rate of over 80%!
If you have a non-healing diabetic foot ulcer and want more information, you can visit our website at www.columbusfootankle.com, or contact our office at (812) 372-6274 to make an appointment.
John R. Hladik, DPM, CWS (Certified Wound Specialist)
Columbus Foot and Ankle Clinic, PC
Co-Medical Director, CRH Advanced Wound Center
