People with diabetes may experience issues related to their condition, such as osteomyelitis and, more commonly, foot ulcers. Getting treatment for these conditions as soon as possible is one of the best ways to ensure they heal — and that you get on the road to recovery and comfort.
MVS Wound care in Towson, Maryland, provides comprehensive treatment to those undergoing treatment for diabetes and related issues, such as diabetic ulcers of the foot.
Why Do Diabetics Get Foot Ulcers?
Not all people living with diabetes get foot ulcers. However, if diabetes goes untreated or is managed poorly, issues like diabetic ulcers of the foot tend to be more common. Diabetic ulcers of the foot happen when the foot does not get proper circulation, and a combination of high blood sugar, irritated skin or tissue in the feet, and damaged tissue all combine to create the perfect conditions for foot ulcers.
Often, diabetic ulcers of the foot go unnoticed due to poor circulation and are only noticed after drainage, discoloration, and lumps form on the feet.
What Do Diabetic Foot Ulcers Look Like?
Diabetic ulcers of the foot may vary in appearance. However, it may bear the following symptoms:
- Crater-like appearance
- Reddish coloration
- Positioned on top or side of the foot
- Calloused skin surrounding the “crater”
If the person with diabetes has diminished nerve function in the foot, they might unexpectedly ignore an ulcer. If this is the case, caregivers (or the person themselves) might be able to tell they have a diabetic ulcer of the foot if they experience a foul odor, swollen foot, or notice a difference in the size of their feet.
How Long Does It Take For A Diabetic Foot Ulcer To Heal?
The nature of the diabetic ulcer of the foot will determine how much time it will need to heal. If it is mild, it may heal on its own in as little as three weeks. More severe ulcers will take months to heal.
Additionally, blood sugar plays a part in healing wounds. People living with diabetes may have a more challenging time healing, in general, due to their fluctuating blood sugar levels. Therefore, healing diabetic ulcers of the foot may have more success healing when treated by a wound care specialist.
Foot Ulcer Treatment Using A Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber
A highly successful way of treating diabetic ulcers of the foot has been through hyperbaric oxygen chambers. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers increase circulation, blood oxygen levels and promote angiogenesis among foot ulcer patients — healing processes that are often stunted due to diabetes.
Foot ulcer treatment using hyperbaric oxygen chambers is relatively simple but has been shown to decrease the time that patients suffering from diabetic ulcers of the foot take to heal.
Typically, patients receive at least ten hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments, and they may receive HBOT treatments up to five times per week.
Wound Care Specialists at MVS Wound Care
MVS Wound Care in Towson specializes in the treatment of diabetic ulcers of the foot using hyperbaric oxygen chambers.
To learn more about foot ulcer treatment using hyperbaric oxygen chambers, please schedule an appointment to meet with one of our wound care specialists.
