Your provider may recommend specially designed shoes orthopedic shoes. These shoes fit the exact shape of your feet, cushion your feet and make sure your weight is the same on both feet. Your provider will look at your foot to figure out what is wrong and prescribe a course of treatment. Treatments for foot ulcers depend on the wound.

Most of the time, the treatment is to remove dead tissue or debris, keep the wound clean, and help with healing. Wounds need to be checked often, at least every 1 to 4 weeks. When the ulcer causes severe loss of tissue or an infection that threatens your life, an amputation may be the only treatment.

A surgeon will remove the damaged tissue and keep as much healthy tissue as possible. After surgery, you'll stay in the hospital for a few days.

It may take 4 to 6 weeks for your wound to heal completely. In addition to your provider and surgeon, other medical professionals involved in your treatment may include:.

Even after amputation, it's important to follow your diabetes treatment plan. People who've had one amputation are at higher risk of having another. Eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, controlling your blood sugar and not smoking can help you prevent more diabetes complications.

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Request Appointment. Amputation and diabetes: How to protect your feet. Products and services. Amputation and diabetes: How to protect your feet Good diabetes management and regular foot care help prevent severe foot sores that are difficult to treat and may require amputation.

By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for subscribing! Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Show references Loscalzo J, et al. Diabetes mellitus: Complications In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. McGraw Hill; Accessed July 24, Matheson EM, et al.

Diabetes-related foot infections: Diagnosis and treatment. American Family Physician. Retinopathy, neuropathy, and foot care: Standards of medical care in diabetes — Diabetes Care. Rossboth R, et al. Risk factors for diabetic foot complications in type 2 diabetes—A systematic review.

Diabetes and foot problems. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. What is a diabetic foot ulcer? American Podiatric Medical Association.

Access July 24, Hingorani A, et al. The management of diabetic foot: A clinical practice guideline by the Society for Vascular Surgery in collaboration with the American Podiatric Medical Association and the Society for Vascular Medicine. Journal of Vascular Surgery. Weintrob AC, et al.

Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of diabetic infections of the lower extremities. Society for Vascular Surgery.

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Don't smoke; smoking makes arteries harden faster. Also, follow your diabetes care team's advice for keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol under control.

If your feet are cold, you may want to warm them. Keep aware that, unfortunately, if you have nerve damage, your feet may not be able feel heat properly and it is easy for you to burn them with hot water, hot water bottles, or heating pads.

The best way to warm cold feet is to wear warm socks. Some people feel pain in their calves when walking fast, up a hill, or on a hard surface. This condition is called intermittent claudication. Stopping to rest for a few moments should end the pain. If you have these symptoms, you must stop smoking.

Work with your diabetes care team to get started on a walking program. Some people can also be helped with medication to improve circulation. Exercise is good for poor circulation. It stimulates blood flow in the legs and feet. Walk in sturdy, comfortable shoes that fit comfortably, but don't walk when you have open sores on your feet.

Ulcers occur most often on the ball of the foot or on the bottom of the big toe. Ulcers on the sides of the foot are usually due to poorly fitting shoes. Remember, even though some ulcers do not hurt, every ulcer should be seen by your doctor right away. Neglecting ulcers can result in infections, which in turn can lead to loss of a limb.

What your doctor will do varies with your ulcer. Your doctor may need to take x-rays of your foot to make sure the bone is not infected. The ulcer may also need to have any dead and infected tissue cleaned out. You may need to go into the hospital for this cleaning.

Also, a culture of the wound may be used to find out what type of infection you have and which antibiotic will work best.

Keeping off your feet is very important. Walking on an ulcer can enlarge it and force the infection deeper into your foot. Your doctor may put a special shoe, brace, or cast on your foot to protect it.

If your ulcer is not healing and your circulation is poor, you may be referred to a vascular surgeon. Managing diabetes is important since high blood glucose blood sugar levels make it hard to fight infection.

After a foot ulcer heals, treat your foot carefully. Scar tissue from the wound will break down easily. You may need to wear special shoes after the ulcer is healed to protect this area and to prevent the ulcer from returning. People with diabetes are far more likely to have a foot or leg amputated than other people.

The problem? Many people with diabetes have peripheral artery disease PAD , which reduces blood flow to the feet.

Also, many people with diabetes have neuropathy, causing you to not feel your feet. Together, these problems make it easy to get ulcers and infections that may lead to amputation.

Most amputations are preventable by checking your feet daily, go to regular visits with your doctor, and wear proper footwear.

For these reasons, take good care of your feet and see your doctor right away if you see any signs of foot problems.

Ask about prescription shoes that are covered by Medicare and other insurance. Always follow your doctor's advice when caring for ulcers or other foot problems. One of the biggest threats to your feet is smoking. Smoking affects small blood vessels.

It can cause decreased blood flow to the feet and make wounds heal slowly. A lot of people with diabetes who need amputations are smokers.

Call QUIT-NOW if you need help quitting. For more tools and resources visit our Amputation Prevention Alliance page. Whether you are newly diagnosed or have lived with diabetes for years, taking good care of your feet is essential. Learn best practices and top tips tailored to wherever you are on your diabetes journey.

Breadcrumb Home About Diabetes Diabetes Complications Foot Complications. Diabetes Complications. Learn about diabetes-related foot complications and how you can treat and prevent them.

Infection can then set in and become so serious that amputation becomes necessary. Checking the feet for abnormalities is a very important part of diabetes care. Abnormalities may include:. In addition to keeping your blood sugar level within its target range, there are several steps that people with diabetes can take to prevent foot complications.

To improve blood flow to the lower extremities, people with diabetes should walk as regularly as possible in shoes or sneakers that are:.

Exercising also reduces hypertension and keeps weight down, which is crucial. Another important part of preventive care is for your doctor to check your feet every visit and test them for touch sensation once per year.

Daily inspection of your feet is also essential. All people with diabetes need to be proactive. Ask questions. Work with your doctor to develop guidelines for foot care. These measures will help prevent complications before they occur.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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In cold weather, wear warm socks instead of warming your feet near a heater or fireplace. Keeping the blood flowing in your feet. Put your feet up when you're sitting.

Wiggle your toes and circle your feet throughout the day. Don't wear tight socks. And get plenty of activity that's not too hard on the feet, such as walking.

Getting your feet checked at your health care visits. Even if you haven't noticed a problem, it's good to have your health care provider look at your feet. When should I see my health care provider about diabetic foot problems?

See your health care provider right away if you notice: A cut, blister, or bruise on your feet that doesn't start to heal in a few days Red, warm, or painful skin on your feet A callus with dried blood inside A foot infection that becomes black and smells bad that could be gangrene Remember, controlling your blood sugar and caring for your feet every day are the best steps you can take to prevent serious diabetic foot problems.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Start Here. Diabetes and Foot Problems National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Also in Spanish Diabetes and Your Feet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish Foot Complications American Diabetes Association.

Learn More. Focus on Your Feet! Take Steps to Protect Foot Health National Institutes of Health Also in Spanish. Living With.

Amputation and Diabetes: How to Protect Your Feet Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Also in Spanish Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Also in Spanish Diabetic Foot and Risk American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Steps to Prevent or Delay Nerve Damage American Diabetes Association.

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Patient Handouts. Diabetes - foot ulcers Medical Encyclopedia Also in Spanish Diabetes - taking care of your feet Medical Encyclopedia Also in Spanish Foot amputation - discharge Medical Encyclopedia Also in Spanish Leg or foot amputation - dressing change Medical Encyclopedia Also in Spanish.

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