By Melissa Osterbur, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center
Did you know as many as 6 million people with diabetes will have a foot ulcer that may result in chronic, non-healing wounds and, in extreme cases, amputation?
Diabetes can affect the body in so many ways. The most common ways are open ulcers or wounds on the feet and lower legs. Since diabetic patients have little or no sensation on their feet/legs, there may be a wounding event that goes unnoticed. These wounds and other complications can often lead to amputations of the lower extremity. In fact, diabetes is the leading non-traumatic cause of lower extremity amputation in the United States. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that every 30 seconds, a lower limb is amputated because of a wound complicated by diabetes.
But a specialized approach to caring for wounds can prevent amputations or reduce the level of amputation necessary. Many acute wounds, when treated by a physician, heal fairly quickly, but chronic wounds can present a challenge.
Medical centers that specialize in chronic wound care can be effective. Dr. Marcia Hauter, medical director of the Advocate BroMenn Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine in Normal states “We use a specialized, comprehensive approach to treating these difficult wounds and use a variety of therapies.” These techniques include hyperbaric oxygen therapy; debridement, a type of tissue removal; dressing selections specific to the wound environment; and many other advanced therapies. Dr. Hauter also states, “We not only treat the wound but we are treating the disease or the problem that is preventing the wound from healing and giving that patient’s quality of life back.”
Dr. Hauter suggests these foot care tips for those who have diabetes:
- Don’t count on foot pain to alert you to problems. Diabetes can cause changes in the skin on the feet as well as nerve damage, which can impair sensation of feeling. Visually inspect your feet and between your toes for blisters, cuts, red spots, and swelling.
- Avoid crossing your legs. This can cause pressure on the nerves and blood vessels, possibly causing damage.
- Sit with your feet up to keep the blood flowing to them. Two or three times a day, wiggle your toes and move your ankles up and down for five minutes.
- To avoid blisters always wear properly fitting socks. Make sure socks are not tight below the knee.
- To prevent cracking and drying of your feet, rub the top and bottom with lotion — but not between the toes.
- Don’t go barefoot. Feel inside your shoes before putting them on to make sure they don’t have tears in the lining or foreign objects.
- Shoes must be fitted well. New shoes should be worn one to two hours a day for the first few weeks.
- Cut toenails straight across and don’t trim them too short. Use an emery board to smooth corners of toenails or ingrown nails.
- Don’t pull loose pieces of skin off your feet. See a health care professional to have them removed.
See your doctor if you experience any foot problems including if your foot changes in color, shape, or just doesn’t feel right.
The Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal provides expert treatment for a variety of problem wounds. For more information, call 309-268-2920 or visit www.advocatehealth.com/bromenn/wound. BroMenn Medical Center also provides professional diabetes services from certified diabetes educators. To learn more, call 309-268-5952 or visit www.advocatehealth.com/bromenn/diabetes.