One of the most important things I tell my diabetic patients is this:
Any wound on a diabetic foot is dangerous.
A blister, a bruise, a cut — even if it looks small — can turn into something very serious very quickly. That's because diabetes affects circulation, nerve supply, and the ability to fight infection.
Diabetic feet don't behave like normal feet. Even a little wound can get out of control if the blood flow isn't strong enough or if the nerves are damaged.
If you lose protective sensation — what we call neuropathy — you won't even feel the injury. So it gets worse without you noticing.
There's no such thing as a "wait and see" approach with a diabetic foot wound. That's how people end up with serious infections, hospital stays, and sometimes even amputations.
If you notice redness, swelling, drainage, or if the wound isn't healing, get it checked right away.
When I see a diabetic patient with a wound, the first thing I ask is: Does this wound have the capacity to heal?
That means:
Is there enough blood flow?
Is there infection?
Does the patient have enough nutrition and protein to rebuild tissue?
If the answer to any of those is no, we have to fix those first. Otherwise, no treatment will work.
The best treatment is prevention. Check your feet every day. Wear protective shoes. Don't walk barefoot. Keep your sugar under control.
And if you do see a wound — no matter how small — come in early. That's how we save feet.