12 Jun Diabetic Foot Ulcers: What You Should Know
Diabetic Foot Ulcers: What You Should Know
Podiatrists use various treatment methods in the management of diabetic foot ulcers. The goal is to avoid infections and get them to heal in the presence of diabetic nerve damage and poor circulation. Because of the nerve damage and poor circulation, these wounds take longer to heal than a regular wound. Therefore, both the patient and the doctors must cooperate in the care of the wound. It is important that the patient keep appointments and follow the physician’s recommendations in order to get the wound to heal as quickly as possible.
Not every doctor treats a wound in the exact same way and there are many different ways to treat a wound, but the goal is the same—healing. There are certain principles in the management of wound care that do not vary between practitioners but the means by which they are met do differ. For example, it is important to “offload” the foot with the ulcer, which refers to taking the pressure off of the ulcer by different means: the patient may be prescribed special footwear/insoles, crutches, a boot/brace, a specialized cast, or a wheelchair. Other principles in diabetic foot ulcer management include:
-Providing the proper environment for healing.
-Removal of devitalized tissue, also known as “debridement.”
-Treatment of infection with antibiotics.
-Evaluation of blood circulation.
-Management of drainage.
-Tight control of blood glucose levels.
-Proper nutrition.
The treatment methods by which these principles are carried out can include the following: the application of topical medications along with dressings, the use of skin substitutes like Apligraf or Dermagraft, and the use of a wound VAC.
It is important to remember that most diabetic foot ulcers are preventable. The key strategies to prevent foot ulcers are to self-check your feet daily, have your feet checked regularly by your podiatrist, and properly manage your blood sugar.
If you or your loved one has a diabetic foot ulcer, contact Alpine Foot & Ankle Clinic in Missoula today!