Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers is key to preventing hospitalization and amputation

Millions of people have diabetes. As a result of the condition, foot problems can develop and are often a leading cause of hospitalization. Common foot problems include poor circulation, neuropathy and ulceration. Excessive pressure, trauma or a corn can cause ulcers in an area of the foot with reduced circulation. If not cared for properly, diabetic foot ulcers can lead to gangrene and amputations.

Treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

As soon as a foot ulcer is discovered, medical treatment, whether by your family physician or a podiatrist, should begin. Treatment of diabetic foot ulcers reduces the risk for infection and amputation.

Treatment of diabetic foot ulcers includes:

• Taking the pressure off the area. This can be done with special footgear, braces, a wheelchair or crutches.
• Removing dead skin and tissue in the area, called debridement.
• Applying medication or dressings to the ulcer.
• Managing blood glucose levels.

Preventing infection during treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

With treatment of the diabetic foot ulcer underway, patients can do the following to keep the ulcer from becoming infected:

• Continue to control blood glucose levels. This enhances healing and reduces the risk for complications.
• Keep the ulcer clean and properly bandaged. Researchers continue to investigate the use of growth factors, ulcer dressings and skin substitutes, which have been shown to be highly effective in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.
• Clean the wound daily, as per physician directions.
• Keep the feet covered. Research has shown that wounds and ulcers heal faster, with a lower risk for infection, if they are kept covered.

Healing time of foot ulcers ranges from weeks to months. A variety of factors impact healing time, including wound size and location, pressure on the wound, swelling, circulation, blood glucose levels, wound care, and medication and other therapies used.

Surgical treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

Most noninfected foot ulcers do not require foot surgery. However, when standard treatments fail, surgical treatment of diabetic foot ulcers may be necessary. Surgical treatment of diabetic foot ulcers may include procedures to remove pressure on the ulcerated area through bone shaving as well as the correction of foot deformities that may be contributing to the creation of the ulcer, including hammertoes and bunions.

If you have questions about the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, talk to your healthcare professional. Support Socks are designed to reduce leg pain caused by a variety of vein-related conditions

Do you suffer from achy, crampy legs? Support socks might be a good solution. To learn more about support socks, read on.

What are support socks:

Support socks are used to help relieve the symptoms of venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins do not efficiently return blood from the legs to the heart. In healthy veins, the valves in the veins channel blood flow toward the heart. But, when these valves are damaged, the blood leaks and pools in the legs and feet. The result is leg swelling and pain in the legs, including aching and cramping.

Support socks use compression to help treat venous insufficiency. When compression is applied to the leg, blood flow through the veins is increased. The increased blood flow helps to relieve pain symptoms.

Who should wear support socks

Healthcare professionals sometimes recommend the use of support socks in individuals with the following health conditions:

• Varicose veins
• Spider veins
• Phlebitis
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Post surgical edema
• Pregnancy

Support socks also may be recommended to healthy individuals who travel long distances and must sit for hours at a time. During long airplane trips, for example, due to reduced mobility, blood flow can pool in the legs, resulting in swollen ankles and feet and achy, sore legs. Support socks can help promote blood flow and reduce leg discomfort.

Only your healthcare provider can tell you if support socks are right for you. For more information, talk to your doctor.

Where can I purchase support socks?

Support socks are available at pharmacies, retail shops and online. For more information about support socks, please browse the menu on this page.

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