How to Heal Diabetic Ulcers

Diabetes is a condition where your body does not make enough insulin or does not respond to the insulin it does make. Diabetes can be controlled with insulin therapy as well as diet and lifestyle changes. However, a diabetic must still worry about health conditions and injuries caused by their diabetes. Diabetic ulcers are lesions on the feet that occur in diabetics because of poor circulation.

Instructions

• 1

  Recognize the symptoms of a foot ulcer. It will look like a red crater and may have a ring of callused skin around the crater. A foot ulcer is most likely to develop on the side or bottom of the foot. On the toes, it is more likely to be on the tops and tips of your toes. Diabetic ulcers will be painful, but if you do not have feeling in your feet, it is easier not to notice them.

• 2

  See your doctor, who will do a physical exam to diagnose the foot ulcer. He will also evaluate how deep it is and whether it is infected. Your doctor will also evaluate you for nerve damage that is common with diabetic ulcers.

• 3

  The doctor will removed any dead or diseased tissue from around the foot ulcer. He may also remove any callused skin that surrounds the foot ulcer. Diabetic ulcers should be dressed and bandaged to prevent further irritation.

• 4

  Visit your doctor's office every few days to have the foot ulcer re-dressed and examined. Your doctor will want to monitor the area where he removed any dead or diseased skin. If any of the diabetic ulcers were infected, he may monitor the healing progress of the infection.

• 5

  Take the prescription antibiotics your doctor will give you if your diabetic ulcers are infected. Continue to take the prescription antibiotics until they are completely gone, even if you notice an improvement right away. If you experience swelling in your face, tongue or throat, you may be having an allergic reaction to your prescription antibiotics. Seek emergency medical attention immediately.