True impact of diabetic foot ulcers

[Northerner]

The prognosis for people with an infected diabetic foot ulcer is worse than was previously thought, according to new research.

More than half the patients in the research study did not see their ulcer heal over a year -- and one in seven had to have part or all of their foot amputated.

Foot ulcers are open wounds and they affect around a quarter of the 3.3 million people in the UK living with diabetes.

The wounds develop because diabetes damages the nerves and blood vessels in the feet.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171108124144.htm

I wonder how closely they examined the type of treatment these people were getting? From the experiences of some of the people here who have been in this unfortunate situation, care appears to have been very tardy and insufficient in the early stages, with many healthcare professionals not seeming to realise the extra risks for foot infections in people with diabetes

 

[grovesy]

Exactly.
I also suspect with everything else it varies around the country.

 

[Flower]

I agree, it is the early recognition of risk and the speed of treatment that is vital to stop ulcers developing and progressing.

The times I have ended up in real jeopardy were with involvement from general practice where things have been dismissed as nothing to worry about. I go straight to the diabetes podiatrists now at the first sign of problems.
Time is of the utmost essence in protecting areas with open wounds and starting treatment , even with the correct rapid treatment some of the small uninfected ulcers I've had have taken months and months to heal.

 

[Ljc]

Exactly. I now flatly refuse to see the care assistant at our practice who’s had a wee bit of extra training to do our foot exams and deal with foot problems. Fortunately I was referred to the NHS podiatry by the hospital.

 

[Ljc]

I agree, it is the early recognition of risk and the speed of treatment that is vital to stop ulcers developing and progressing.

The times I have ended up in real jeopardy were with involvement from general practice where things have been dismissed as nothing to worry about. I go straight to the diabetes podiatrists now at the first sign of problems.
Time is of the utmost essence in protecting areas with open wounds and starting treatment , even with the correct rapid treatment some of the small uninfected ulcers I've had have taken months and months to heal.

Hear hear.