The Best Ways to Treat a Diabetes Foot Ulcer and Tips for Prevention

A diabetes foot ulcer is a common complication of untreated diabetes and a common cause of hospitalization. The good news is that diabetes foot ulcers can be treated and prevented in most cases. Let’s look at ways you can take good care of your feet if you have diabetes.

What are diabetes foot ulcers?

Diabetes foot ulcers are open sores on the bottom of the feet in people with diabetes. They often begin from a minor scrape, blister, cut, or crack in the foot. 

If left untreated, these foot problems can develop a severe infection and result in a diabetes foot ulcer. In severe cases it can even lead to amputation. That’s why timely detection is extremely important. If you have diabetes, it’s important to practice good foot care to protect your feet. 

Promotional Disclosureinfo_outlined

SPECIAL OFFER

Save on popular GLP-1 Agonists

Take control of your health. With GoodRx, you may be eligible to save even more on popular treatments.

Get Savings

What do diabetes foot ulcers look like?

Diabetic foot ulcers can appear as small, red, circular holes in the tissue on the bottom of the foot surrounded by thick callused skin. The area surrounding the ulcer can sometimes become black. Because of long-standing diabetes, there may also be a loss of sensation in the area. In many cases, a diabetes foot ulcer is painless, with a foul odor and drainage. 

How do you treat diabetes foot ulcers?

There are several approaches to the treatment of diabetes foot ulcers. These include:

• Off-loading: This technique relieves the pressure off the wound. Off-loading is done with the support of a cast, specialized footwear, or a wheelchair.

• Debridement: This is the process of removal of dead skin and tissue. Debridement helps to improve healing and should only be performed by a healthcare professional.

• Wound care: Your healthcare provider may apply medications or bandages to the ulcer to keep the area clean and to create the best environment for recovery.

• Antibiotics: Your healthcare provider may use medications to treat infection. These may be oral or intravenous (IV) antibiotics if you’re hospitalized. 

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: This form of treatment helps to boost the oxygen flow to the wound. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can increase the rate of healing.

• Negative pressure wound therapy: This is where a vacuum-assisted device is used to decrease pressure in the wound. The gentle suction of negative pressure wound therapy improves the rate of healing over time.

• Amputation: It’s sometimes necessary to amputate or remove the toes or portions of the foot to stop damage to tissues and bones.

Foot ulcers can be challenging to treat and may require multiple treatment options. Ultimately, your provider will try to improve blood flow, limit infection, and reduce weight-bearing for the foot.

How are wound dressings used for diabetes foot ulcers?

Wound dressings are pivotal for healing diabetes foot ulcers. These bandages can limit further damage to the skin and tissues. In deciding on the best dressing for your diabetes foot ulcer, your provider will consider:

• Your overall health

• The stage of your ulcer

• The environment around your wound

• The properties of the dressing materials

A wet-to-dry dressing is a common choice. This is where saline is used to moisten the dressing before it’s applied to the wound. The dressing is allowed to dry and changed every 4 to 6 hours. 

In general, suitable wound dressings should: 

• Be sterile and not stick to the wound

• Maintain a moist healing environment

• Absorb drainage and pus

• Protect against bacteria 

• Control odor 

• Provide protection 

• Prepare the ulcer for debridement

How do you prevent diabetes foot ulcers?

It’s easier to prevent a diabetes foot ulcer than to try and treat it after it has started. Some tips you can follow to take care of your feet and prevent diabetes foot ulcers are: 

• Try to keep blood sugars in a healthy range through proper diet and exercise.

• Check your feet daily for any changes.

• Wear properly fitting shoes at all times, even around the house.

• Keep your feet covered with socks to avoid being barefoot. 

• Hydrate your feet with moisturizers. 

• Don’t remove corns or calluses from your feet on your own.

• Avoid warming your feet with heating devices, such as a heating pad or a space heater.

• Quit smoking, if you smoke, or don’t start.

At the first sign of a problem, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. Remember, prevention is the key to avoid the complications of a diabetes foot ulcer.

Can diabetes foot ulcers be cured?

The sooner a diabetes foot ulcer is found, the sooner it can be treated — and the sooner it can heal. Depending on how severe the ulcer is, it can take weeks to months to fully recover. Several things play a role in getting you back on your feet, including: 

• The location of the ulcer

• The size of the wound 

• Adequate treatment of your diabetes 

• Proper wound care

• Keeping pressure off the wound

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Bernadette Anderson, MD, MPH

A native of Saginaw, Michigan, Dr. Bernadette earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She completed a master's degree in public health at the University of California, Berkeley, and a doctorate of medicine from the Medical College of Ohio.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts