Diabetic foot ulcer

Loss of sensation

Because you have less sensation in your feet due to neuropathy, you are less likely to feel an injury or infection. For example, you may walk on hot sand and burn the soles of your feet, or tread on a nail and not feel it. It is imperative that you check your feet at least twice daily, because if you don’t notice an injury, it will get worse.

Poor circulation

Poor circulation means that injured skin heals more slowly and is prone to infection. If your foot is pale and cool, with little or no pulse, you have compromised blood circulation.

Infection

Because of the poor blood supply, any foot wound is likely to become infected. You need to keep the wound clean to avoid infection and minimise pain.
Signs of infection include:

• An increase or a change in pain
• Increased redness
• Swelling
• An increase in the amount and colour of exudate (fluid) from the wound
• Odour from the wound
• A high temperature

However, the early signs of infection such as redness, swelling, and pain are not always present, so you need to check your feet regularly.

Looking after your feet

• Make sure that your diabetes is well controlled
• Check your feet daily, or get a friend to help! Remember, you may have reduced sensation in your feet and cannot feel pain, which usually tells us there is a problem. A mirror can be used to check the soles of your feet
• Wash (but do not soak) feet daily, making sure that the water is not too hot. A mild soap can be used unless your skin is very dry.  Moisturise as necessary
• Visit a podiatrist regularly – they can undertake foot-care such as nail-cutting for you
• Make sure you have well-fitting footwear – remember, a loss of foot sensation means that you won’t know when your shoes are too tight or rubbing, so check daily. Seek advice from your doctor or podiatrist
• Avoid walking barefoot. Do not use electric pads or hot baths to warm cold feet – use an extra pair of socks!

What to look for

• Variation from your normal foot “colour” such as blueness, redness or mottling
• Cracks, corns, blisters, bleeding, pus, or excessive dryness

A number of suitable dressings can be found if you click on the ‘our solutions’ tab.

Dressing changes

Some dressings can take off the ‘top’ of the wound (the ‘wound bed’) and the skin around the wound, so use a dressing that protects the wound and the surrounding skin.

Help

Mölnlycke Health Care dressings have a special, gentle adhesive which means that they cause little or no pain when they are taken off. This is called Safetac^® technology. Click here to learn more about Safetac technology. Your doctor or nurse will know which of the dressings are best to use for your wound.

If you want to learn more about pain and how you can minimise it, please visit our Pain centre by clicking the button.