Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention

Diabetic foot ulcers are a medical condition that affects 1.6 million Americans and 18.6 million people worldwide. They occur when wounds become infected. If left untreated, they can lead to gangrene and possibly amputations.

Foot ulcers can be treated, but prevention is even more desirable. It’s best not to deal with the ulcer in the first place. This article will discuss how to prevent foot ulcers in diabetic patients so they can enjoy optimal health.

What Causes Diabetic Foot Ulcers?

Diabetics often have nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy) and circulatory issues. They are unable to feel wounds on their feet. When wounds are untreated, they can become infected and develop into bigger problems.

Wounds often occur due to:

• Ill-Fitting Shoes: Ill-fitting shoes can cause corns and blisters that lead to bigger problems.
• Ingrown Toenails: Ingrown toenails can dig into the foot and cause infections.
• Lack of Protection: Wounds may occur when you walk barefoot or wear open shoes. The elements may scratch or cut your feet.
• Athlete’s Foot: Athlete’s Foot is a fungal infection that causes a rash on the foot. It makes feet dry and cracked increasing the risk of a wound. Additionally, because diabetics have low immunity, Athlete’s Foot is more likely to develop into a full-blown infection.

How to Prevent Diabetic Foot Ulcers

These measures will prevent diabetic foot ulcers:

• Wear Comfortable Shoes: People wondering how to prevent diabetic leg ulcers (a term often interchangeable with diabetic foot ulcers) can wear round-toe shoes with about a half inch of space between the toe and the top of the shoe. Avoid wearing high heels or any shoes that squeeze your foot. In addition to increasing the risk of corns and blisters, these shoes can cause bunions that lead to ingrown toenails.
• Practice Proper Footcare: Keep toenails trimmed straight across. File down sharp edges that can dig into your toe and become ingrown.
• Wear Protective Shoes: Wear shoes that protect your feet and avoid walking barefoot.
• Keep Feet Clean and Dry: Keep feet clean and dry to reduce Athlete’s Foot risk. Wear moisture-wicking socks and don’t share towels or linens with anyone who has Athlete’s foot.
• Lose Weight: Obese people are more likely to develop corns and blisters because they put a strain on their feet. Losing weight will lower stress and make diabetic foot ulcers less likely to occur.
• Treat Corns and Blisters: People wondering how to avoid diabetic ulcers should treat corns and blisters that appear. Corns should be soaked in water. Any foot wound should be cushioned to prevent it from worsening and getting infected.
• Inspect Feet Regularly: Diabetics may not feel foot wounds due to poor circulation and nerve damage. They should inspect their feet regularly so they can identify and treat foot wounds before they develop into bigger problems.
• Keep Blood Sugar Under Control: High blood sugar can lead to poor circulation and nerve damage making foot wounds harder to detect. Keep blood sugar under control by monitoring it regularly and following a healthy diet and exercise routine.
• Quit Smoking: Cigarettes and other tobacco products are linked to poor circulation and may limit feeling in the foot. They can also slow healing making it difficult to recover from wounds and ulcers.· 
• Temperature Monitoring: Temperature monitoring will let you know if the temperature of your foot is increasing due to inflammation or infection that may be caused by a foot wound or ulcer. Lower temperatures may indicate reduced blood pressure, a matter that should also be addressed.

How to Treat Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Unfortunately, preventative measures don’t always work. However, if a foot wound develops into a diabetic foot ulcer, you can treat it to prevent gangrene and amputation. Here are some recommended treatment methods:

• Clean and Dress the Wound: Clean your wound with soap and water. Avoid hydrogen peroxide and other solutions unless your doctor recommends them. Keep the wound covered with bandages.
• Offloading: Offloading involves taking pressure off the foot. This can be achieved with special crutches, a brace, or medical footwear.
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be prescribed if the wound is infected.
• Topical Medications: Your doctor may prescribe topical medications that you can apply to the wound to enhance healing.

Feetsee Can Help with Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention

Individuals who feel foot temperature monitoring is an ideal solution for how to stop diabetic foot ulcers may consider FeetSee’s revolutionary technology. The system works through a cellphone app. Insert the connected device to connect your phone to the Feetsee stand and sit down to allow the app to scan your feet. It will monitor your temperature for early ulcer detection.

Diabetic foot ulcers are an issue no diabetic should have to deal with. Preventative measures like Feetsee’s foot temperature monitoring will detect early symptoms before they get out of control. Contact us to learn more about his innovative solution.