Q. Do diabetic foot ulcers ever heal?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Absolutely! Diabetic foot ulcers can heal, but it depends on the severity of the wound and how quickly you receive treatment. Diabetes affects patients’ feet differently and many people with diabetes experience foot complications due to nerve damage that impairs sensation in the lower extremities. When these cuts or wounds go unnoticed, they can become infected or even lead to limb loss if left untreated.
Fortunately, diabetic foot ulcers can often be healed and brought back to a healthy state with proper care from a doctor or podiatrist. Your doctor will recommend various treatments depending on your particular case ranging from debridement (cleaning out necrotic tissue) to dressings that are wet-to-dry for shallow wounds, moist dressing for deep wounds, antibiotics for infection control as well as offloading devices such as cast boots or wedges that limit stress on certain areas of the foot where ulcers may form in order to reduce pain and healing time. The most important thing is staying proactive and addressing any skin breaks early before they become bigger problem by consulting your healthcare provider immediately . Keeping blood glucose levels under control is also essential since high levels have been linked to infections which make it harder for diabetic foot ulcers to heal properly.
With diligent care of your feet and regular check-ups with your podiatrist or physician you should be able see progress along with reductions in pain over time resulting until complete healing of your diabetic feet wounds!