Diabetic Ulcer

Between 1-4% of people with diabetes develop diabetic ulcers each year. If you have diabetes and notice a cut or wound on your feet or toes, seek treatment immediately. At Mayfair Foot Care in Commack, New York, podiatrists Edward Buro, DPM, Christine Peterson, DPM, and Rosario Saccomanno, DPM, specialize in diagnosing and treating diabetic ulcers. Using safe and effective measures, they can reduce your risk of infection and encourage your body’s healing process. Call the office to receive treatment for a diabetic ulcer today, or book online.

What is a diabetic ulcer?

A diabetic ulcer is an open wound that forms because of poorly managed diabetes (a chronic disease that affects your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar).

If you have diabetes and don’t monitor your blood sugar levels daily, your blood sugar can spike, increasing the risk of permanent nerve damage. When the nerves in your feet or toes don’t work normally, and you cut yourself or step on something sharp, you might not realize it. Left untreated, your wound might become infected, forming a diabetic ulcer.

What are the symptoms of a diabetic ulcer?

Symptoms of a diabetic ulcer include:

• Skin discoloration
• A scratch or open wound
• Hair loss
• Pain
• Numbness
• Redness

If the ulcer is infected, it might also ooze blood or pus.

Who is at risk of experiencing a diabetic ulcer?

Anyone with diabetes can experience a diabetic ulcer, but several factors may increase your risk, including:

• Wearing tight shoes that crowd your toes
• Poor hygiene (not washing your feet daily)
• Improper toenail trimming
• Alcohol consumption
• Tobacco use

You’re also more likely to develop diabetic ulcers if you’re overweight. Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly can significantly reduce your risk.

How are diabetic ulcers diagnosed?

Your Mayfair Foot Care provider reviews your health charts and asks about your diabetes, including your type, when you were diagnosed, and if you take any medications, like insulin.

Next, they examine your wound or ulcer. Your podiatrist checks for signs of infection, like redness, discoloration, or discharge, and collects a biopsy sample for testing. They also order a series of X-rays to determine how far the infection extends beneath your skin or to the bone.

How are diabetic ulcers treated?

Mayfair Foot Care offers various treatments for diabetic ulcers. They might recommend:

• Cleaning the wound
• Draining fluid or pus from the ulcer
• Removing dead or infected tissue (wound debridement)
• Applying special bandages or ointments to protect the wound 
• Alginate dressings
• Manuka honey
• Prescribing a wheelchair or crutches to take pressure off the wound

If your ulcer is infected, your provider might also prescribe oral antibiotics or an intravenous (IV) antibiotic drip.

Call Mayfair Foot Care to learn more about the treatment options for diabetic ulcers today, or book online.