Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Diabetes
A different approach to the care of the diabetic foot
Abstract
A traumatic injury requires protection from further trauma if healing is to occur with minimal residual deformity. Diabetic patients often develop ulcerated feet, but continue to walk on them because of reduced pain perception. These people are at risk and need to be alerted early to the dangers involved.
Key Points
- Many diabetic patients have a neuropathy of which they are unaware.
- Every diabetic patient should be taught at diagnosis how to care for his or her feet.
- Most neuropathic ulcers are not infected and will heal with anything on them except the patient’s weight.
- Any hot, swollen, painless foot should be treated as a neuropathic bone lesion and protected, until proved otherwise.
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