Treating and Preventing Diabetic Wounds

If you have diabetes, you are more at risk to develop complications that may make it harder for wounds to heal. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to every injury or wound you experience – no matter how insignificant it may seem. Even the most minor injury can quickly become major if you don’t take care of it properly.

Diabetes and Foot Wounds

In people with diabetes, the feet and ankles are especially susceptible to swelling and infection following a wound. Complications such as diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) and narrowed arteries can worsen the problem.

If you have diabetic neuropathy, damage to nerves in your legs and feet may prevent you from feeling any pain and noticing a cut or blister on your foot until it is already infected. If the blood vessels in your legs are clogged or narrowed, this can inhibit blood flow to a foot wound. And since blood flow promotes healing, diabetic foot wounds are more likely to become infected.

An infected foot wound that goes without treatment can ultimately cause so much damage to tissue and bone that your foot or lower leg will need to be amputated. Ulcers are the leading cause of lower leg amputations in people with diabetes. That’s why it’s critically important for diabetics to treat a wound as soon as possible.

Tips for Treating Wounds

To avoid infection and promote healing, treat wounds immediately. As soon as you notice an injury – even if you just have a blister from tight shoes or you cut yourself shaving – take care of it on the spot to prevent infection.

Rinse the wound with water, but don’t use soap, hydrogen peroxide or iodine, as these can cause irritation. Pat the injury dry, apply antibiotic ointment and cover it with a bandage. Change the bandage daily and check for any signs of infection. If at all possible – or when possible – keep pressure off the wound as it heals. If the wound seems slow to heal, or you notice any signs of infection (prolonged redness or swelling, pus), see your doctor immediately. It’s better to be safe than sorry.    

Tips for Preventing Wounds

Preventing diabetic foot wounds is really a matter of awareness. In general, you should

• Inspect your feet daily for blisters and calluses
• Use moisturizer daily
• Wear shoes that fit properly, and preferably closed-toe shoes to avoid toe injuries
• Wear socks that wick moisture away from the skin to prevent fungal infections
• Practice good foot hygiene: wash your feet daily, keep your toenails clipped, and gently smooth away calluses with a pumice stone.

But the most important thing you can do to prevent diabetic foot wounds is to carefully manage your diabetes. This means monitoring your blood glucose every day, keeping your blood sugar levels under control with a healthy diet and exercise and taking your medications as prescribed. See your diabetes doctor, as well as a podiatrist (foot doctor), on a regular basis.