Diabetic Foot Wound Care | Nova Foot

1. Teaser Headline: I have type 2 Diabetes…Is my foot wound serious? Seven Ways to Care for Foot Wounds If You Have Type 2 Diabetes Foot wounds can lead to serious complications for people with type 2 Diabetes. For this reason, it’s important to protect your feet and treat any cuts, scrapes, or callouses right away. If you have type 2 Diabetes, even a small cut or scrape can turn into a serious problem. Here’s the reason: If your blood sugar levels are too high, your arteries can become stiff and your blood vessels can become narrowed. This hinders your blood flow and cuts off some of the oxygen and crucial nutrients that are needed to help your wound heal. Small wounds can also become infected from the bacteria in your shoe — and then, chronically high blood sugar can impair the function of immune cells that fight against infection. A high sugar environment also helps bacteria, fungi, and other infection-causing organisms to grow. A seemingly small local infection can spread to other soft tissue or to bone and even your blood, which can lead to sepsis, a dangerous and potentially life- threatening level of infection. Diabetic neuropathy — a condition that damages nerves in the feet, leading to a loss of sensation — adds further complications: When people with diabetes lose sensation in their feet, it’s quite difficult to walk, and they end up putting increased pressure on only certain parts of the feet that can sense the floor. The constant pressure on certain areas of the feet may cause skin breakdown and ulcers. Nerve damage can also prevent pain signals that would otherwise help you know when you have a minor foot issue, like a splinter, ingrown toenail, or even when your shoe is rubbing the wrong way. About 15% of people with Diabetes will develop a wound over the course of the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association. If you take preventive steps and get the proper treatment, you can avoid a serious infection. Follow these steps to help prevent injuries and help them heal faster. Keep your blood sugar levels down. Poor circulation, neuropathy, and a weakened immune system can all be improved with good control of your Diabetes. Your Diabetes doctor can help you develop a plan to keep your blood sugar stable.

2. Quit smoking. Smoking is a risk factor for poor circulation, which increases your susceptibility for wounds and poor healing. Wear well-fitting shoes. One of the best ways to ward off a foot injury is to wear protective shoes that fit well. If you have neuropathy, it’s best to avoid walking around barefoot, even in your own house. Keep your feet clean and your nails trimmed. Wash your feet with soap and water daily and apply lotion to the entire foot to avoid cracked skin. Trimming your nails can help prevent an ingrown toenail. Patients with neuropathy should see a foot doctor for nail trimming. Do a daily foot check. Inspect the skin on your feet, including the area between your toes. Learn to spot the warning signs.Callouses are often the first sign that you’re putting pressure on certain areas of your feet, which can lead to an ulcer. Look for callouses and see your doctor if they become red and painful. Also look for cuts, blood, tenderness, a foul-smelling discharge, swelling, or black or blue skin. If you notice any of these changes, see your doctor immediately. If you can’t walk because of pain or tenderness, consider that a sign to get professional help. Treat a wound immediately. If you find a wound, clean it with gentle soap and water, apply an antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a bandage. Repeat this process twice a day and keep it covered in the bath or shower. If there’s any swelling, pus, or drainage; or it looks, feels, or smells bad, get your foot looked at immediately. Typically, superficial wounds heal within 5 to 7 days, but if it doesn’t, see your doctor. Contact our offices Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Virginia Foot & Ankle Associates and schedule an appointment today. To learn more about Diabetic foot wound care, go to Heel Pain Institute of America or Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Foot & Ankle Associates.