A small percentage of individuals who have diabetes develop foot ulcers. Foot ulcers tend to form in individuals with diabetes because they have poor circulation in their feet as well as a lack of feeling in their feet. Nerve damage caused by prolonged elevated blood glucose levels can also contribute to individuals with diabetes getting foot ulcers. If you have a foot ulcer and are diabetic, there are specific steps you can take to treat the ulcer and keep it from getting infected.
Get Off Your Feet
One of the best things you can do when you have an ulcer on your foot is get off your feet. You want to take the pressure off of your ulcer, which means that you need to stop standing on your feet and elevate your feet. Taking the pressure off your feet is called "off-loading".
Whenever you can, sit down and proper up your feet. This will take the pressure off your ulcer and allow your foot time to heal. Constant pressure on your ulcer will make the pain more intense and can lead to your ulcer opening up.
Don't Walk Barefoot
When you have an ulcer, you should not walk barefoot, even in your own home. Walking barefoot puts your foot into direct contact with more objects, which could bump and injure your ulcer. Walking barefoot will also allow dirt to get on your feet and potentially infect your ulcer.
When you are going outside, put on socks and proper footwear. When you are inside of your home, wear socks and slippers to protect your feet.
Clean The Wound Daily
Make sure that you take the time to clean your ulcer daily. Don't scrub the area harshly; just gently clean the area with antibacterial soaps. Then, apply any topical medication that your doctor has prescribed for the ulcer. After that, wrap the ulcer up with bandages.
You want to keep the wound fresh and clean. You should change the dressing at least twice a day to keep everything clean and healing.
Manage Your Blood Sugar
Finally, you need to make sure that you manage your blood sugar. One reason ulcers develop is because you are not managing your blood sugar properly. If you want your ulcer to heal, you need to start paying attention to what you are putting into your body and you need to be checking and managing your blood sugar multiple times throughout the day.
This is a really big step that you may need to work with your doctor and your family to achieve. Getting your diabetes and your blood sugar under control will help you get your ulcer under control and will be beneficial to your overall health as well.
For more information, contact companies like Collier Podiatry PA.
