Diabetic ulcers present as sores most frequently occurring on the ball of the foot. There are a variety of methods for treating foot ulcers and managing their symptoms, including management of contributing factors, basic wound care, and in serious cases surgical intervention. If you have recently begun to notice these sores, it’s essential that you notify your doctor immediately so that you can come up with a plan for Diabetic Ulcer Treatment in Joliet IL. Timely medical intervention can prevent the need for invasive surgery. Your doctor can help you manage contributing factors such as hypertension, obesity, and renal insufficiency.
The prescribed treatment will depend on the severity of your ulcers. Antibiotics may be necessary to prevent further infection, but in many cases the symptoms can be treated with wound care alone. Providing a moist environment will aid in healing. After cleaning the wound, you’ll need to apply a hydro-active paste and damp dressings, as these factors will help to support healing and protect the healthy skin surrounding the wound. The best option for bandages is a dressing that is semipermeable to moisture, but impermeable to bacterial agents. Your doctor will be able to suggest the best wound care treatment for your particular case.
Restriction of activity is important to Diabetic Ulcer Treatment in Joliet IL and elsewhere, as your ulcers will require time to heal with or without surgical intervention. Often a period of bed rest is necessary, but custom footwear can also be helpful. Maintaining a strict diabetic diet is essential during the healing stage, as with managing all the symptoms of diabetes.
In extreme cases, surgery may be the only option. Surgical debridement of infected tissue is often needed to mitigate complications like osteomyelitis. In cases where healthy tissue is at risk, your surgeon may also suggest revisional surgery and vascular reconstruction. All of this can be intimidating, but the purpose is to remove the risk of gangrene and other dangerous complications of extensive diabetic ulcers while maintaining as much mobility as possible. Visit here for more details.
Of course the best case scenario is to manage the disease without the need for surgical intervention. This is why it is so important that you keep your doctor informed of any changes in your condition. If you are in need of Diabetic Ulcer Treatment in Joliet IL, Suburban Foot & Ankle Associates in Joliet IL has a team of specialized doctors and surgeons to meet your needs.
