TREATMENT OF FOOT PROBLEMS WITH DIABETES
The treatment of foot problems depends upon the presence and severity of foot ulcers.
Treatment of superficial ulcers (involving only the top layers of skin) usually includes cleaning the ulcer and removing dead skin and tissue (debridement) by a healthcare provider.
There are a number of debridement techniques available.
If the foot is infected, antibiotics are generally prescribed. The patient (or someone in his or her household) should clean the ulcer and apply a clean dressing twice daily. The patient should keep weight off the foot ulcer as much as possible, meaning that they should not walk with the affected foot. The foot should be elevated when sitting or lying down. The ulcer should be checked by a healthcare provider at least once per week to make sure that the ulcer is improving.
Ulcers that extend into the deeper layers of the foot, involving muscle and bone, usually require hospitalization. More extensive laboratory testing and x-rays may be done, and intravenous antibiotics are often necessary. Surgery may be necessary to remove infected bone or to place a cast on the foot to take pressure off the ulcer.