A diabetic foot ulcer is an open sore on your foot that can develop in people with diabetic neuropathy. Usually the wound starts as something small, like a cut or a blister. Over time, it breaks down into a festering sore that can easily become infected. Ulcers typically develop on the sole of the foot or under a toe. However, they can still appear on the sides of the feet, the tops of the toes, and around the heel.
It doesn’t take long for a foot ulcer to form. Diabetes is a systemic disease that weakens your immune system, making you far more susceptible to small injuries that can rapidly deteriorate into something worse. Neuropathy is a problem with nerves that have lost their sensitivity—often as a side effect of diabetes—making it more likely that you won’t feel small injuries when they happen. This unfortunate combination allows ulcers to form.
This foot condition needs prompt care by foot specialists like our team at Martin Foot and Ankle in York, Hanover, Lancaster and Lititz, PA. Complications from wounds can actually lead to a limb amputation. Let our experts keep that from happening. Call (717) 757-3537 to make an appointment.
