For one thing, diabetes can lead to a weakened immune system “so a simple cut or scrape can get infected easier than in someone who doesn’t have diabetes,” said Kiersten Weber, DPM, a podiatrist with the University of Oklahoma’s Harold Hamm Diabetes Center in Oklahoma City. Neuropathy or nerve damage, one of the many diabetes side effects, also can play a role. Neuropathy can occur because extra sugar in the bloodstream can damage your nerves over time. “It usually starts in the smallest blood vessels, which are in the hands and feet,” explains Dr. Weber, and when you have neuropathy, you have decreased feeling in your feet. As a result, you may not feel pain if you have a cut or blister on your foot, and if you don’t know it’s there and don’t treat it, the sore could become infected. That’s why regularly inspecting your feet for cuts, scrapes, blisters, calluses, and other wounds is such an important part of diabetes care, she said. “If you can’t lift your feet, have someone do it for you and look at the bottom of your feet,” Weber said. “You also can use mirrors to inspect the bottom of your feet if you need.”
Preventing Cuts and Scrapes
Of course, the best way to protect yourself is to make a serious effort to prevent wounds. Make sure you never walk barefoot, even inside your home, and always wear good-fitting shoes. “I also tell my patients to check the inside of their shoes for stones,” Weber said. “If you have neuropathy, you could get a small stone in your shoe and not know it.” Protect your feet by letting your podiatrist handle even minor foot issues. Don’t try to remove calluses or warts yourself.You might be tempted to try commercial preparations you see at your pharmacy, but they can burn your skin, which could cause serious damage to your foot. If you attempt to cut a callus or wart with a razor blade or other instrument, you could end up cutting yourself and have an even more serious problem than you started with. If you have calluses, warts, or corns, have your podiatrist treat them. If you develop a callus, use a pumice stone to keep it under control. Apply it when your skin is wet, and use lotion immediately afterward.
Treating Wounds
Should you get a cut, treat it immediately, before it can become infected. Cleanse the affected area with soap and water daily. Dry the area well after washing, and apply an antibiotic ointment to keep the sore germ-free. You will feel better and heal faster if you keep pressure off the wound. “Make sure you’re not stepping directly on your wound,” Weber said. “Pressure can increase the time it takes to heal.” A podiatrist can help you fabricate a pad so you’re not stepping on it, she added. Cathey Colburn, RN, MS, CDE, the lead educator and clinic manager at the Tulsa campus of the Harold Hamm Center, urged anyone with diabetes who gets a cut or scrape that doesn’t get better within 48 hours to see a doctor. “If everyone with diabetes were to do that,” she said, “their wounds wouldn’t advance.” Skin injuries generally heal within two weeks, Weber said, but cuts may take up to three weeks to heal in people with diabetes. “Anything beyond that is excessive, and you should have your doctor look at it again,” she recommended. Also be aware of the signs of an infection. A wound could be infected if you feel pain, if it’s red, or if it feels warm. Drainage is another sign of an infection. Don’t ignore any of these signs. Get treatment promptly, Weber said.
Extra TLC to Speed Healing
If you get a wound, it’s also important that you:
Eat a healthy diet. Good nutrition is important for wound care because it helps regulate your blood sugar and assures that you get the vitamins and minerals your body needs to heal, said Christine Olson, RD, LD, CDE, a dietitian at the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center. It’s especially important that you get enough protein, she said. Protein helps repair the skin and other tissue that has been damaged.Get regular exercise. Exercise can help keep your blood circulating and stimulates blood flow to your legs and feet. However, if you have a foot sore, stay off your feet until it heals.
Remember that even a small scrape can become serious if you don’t take proper care of it – and wounds that are left to fester could lead to an amputation in the most serious cases. Taking good care of yourself is an important step toward preventing wounds, but if you should get injured, follow all the needed steps to help it heal quickly.
