What Are the Treatments for Diabetic Ulcers?

Diabetic ulcers are open wounds that usually affect the bottom of the feet. As many as 25 percent of diabetics will develop foot ulcers, which can become infected and result in hospitalization. Diabetic ulcers precede most leg amputations.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of diabetic ulcers include pain, foot discoloration, cold and swollen feet, and sores, ulcers or blisters on the feet.

Causes

• Diabetic ulcers are caused by diabetic induced nerve damage in legs and feet. The damage means you won't feel sores or blisters on your feet, which allows them to get infected.

Treatment

• Treatment of diabetic ulcers includes Regranex gel to speed wound healing, cleaning the wound frequently, keeping pressure off the foot and using antibiotics to prevent infection.

Amputation

• Treatment of diabetic ulcers to prevent amputation includes bypass surgery to aid blood flow and placing diabetics in hyperbaric oxygen changers to help create new blood vessels and speed healing.

Other Treatment

• Skin grafts may help speed healing of diabetic ulcers when other treatments have not worked. Removing dead tissue through a process called debridement is used to aid healing,

Complications

• Infected diabetic ulcers can raise blood sugar, lower immune response and prevent healing. Adjusting the diet and getting insulin shots may help control blood sugar levels.