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3 Key Practices for Preventing Diabetic Foot Ulcers from Recurring
experience you really don’t want to repeat.
Unfortunately, for the 40+ million Americans who have diabetes, about one-third will develop a diabetic foot ulcer. Even more concerning is the reality that about 40% of people will have a recurrence within a year after the initial ulcer heals. And this number jumps to 50% within three years and 65% within five years.
To stay on the healthier side of these recurrence statistics, we turn to foot, ankle, and leg wound specialist Dr. Thomas Rambacher and the team at Foot Ankle Leg Wound Care Orange County. In the following, we review a few key practices for staying one step ahead of a recurring foot ulcer through comprehensive diabetic foot care.
1. Manage your health and your diabetes
The most important step you can take is to make sure that your diabetes is well managed. By keeping glucose levels in your blood better regulated, you can protect your cardiovascular system, as well as your peripheral nerves, from further damage that can very much lead to another diabetic foot ulcer.
In addition to working with your healthcare team to make sure your blood sugar is well regulated, we also recommend other important lifestyle changes. For example, if you’re carrying excess weight, you’re placing more pressure on your feet and you raise your risks for foot ulcers. So weight loss can be incredibly beneficial.
We also recommend getting more active to improve blood flow down to your lower legs and feet. Even a simple, daily walking routine for 30-60 minutes a day can make a big difference.
2. Protect your feet
Another great way to prevent a diabetic foot ulcer from recurring is to do everything in your power to keep your feet safe from injury and damage. To do this, we recommend:
- Never going barefoot
- Never soaking your feet, which can make your skin too soft
- Using moisturizers to prevent your skin from cracking
- Washing and drying your feet daily
- Wearing shoes that support your feet and that don’t cause friction
- Trimming toenails carefully and avoiding sharp edges
It’s also a good practice to examine your feet daily, which you can do during your daily washing and moisturizing. During this inspection, look for any signs of trouble (open skin) and if you see anything, come see us immediately, which brings us to our final point.
3. Never delay foot care
The moment you see something troublesome in your foot, which can be as minor as a blister or a tiny cut, we want you to come see us straight away. As you’ve already learned with your first diabetic foot ulcer, things can degenerate quickly, so we want to prevent this cascade. To do this, we need to get in there early to treat the foot ulcer before infection sets in.
If you have more questions about preventing a diabetic foot ulcer from recurring or you suspect that one might be developing, you can call our office in Mission Viejo, California, at 949-832-6018 or request an appointment online today.