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I Just Noticed A Cut Or Sore On Bottom Of Foot. My First Since Being Diagnosed. What Should I Do?

A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭
Des Moines, IA
January 29, 2017
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Answer Summary

Members overwhelmingly urged immediate professional medical attention for any foot cut or sore in diabetes, emphasizing that delays can lead... Read more

Members overwhelmingly urged immediate professional medical attention for any foot cut or sore in diabetes, emphasizing that delays can lead to serious complications including amputation, with several sharing cautionary personal stories of infections that worsened quickly or led to toe loss. Many members offered practical first-aid advice while waiting for a doctor, including soaking feet in warm water with Epsom salts (never exceeding 10 minutes), keeping the area clean and dry, applying antibiotic ointment or Manuka honey under sterile dressings, wearing diabetic socks and supportive footwear, and never walking barefoot. A recurring theme was the critical importance of daily foot inspections, seeing a podiatrist regularly, taking even minor injuries seriously because diabetics heal more slowly and are prone to infections, and resisting the temptation to self-treat serious wounds without professional guidance.

A DiabetesTeam Member

You need to get it cleaned and dressed to stop infection.

September 23, 2020
A DiabetesTeam Member

There's what happens when you LISTEN to non-professional people and there home remedies!!!

September 21, 2020
A DiabetesTeam Member

Hi , I would advise you to see a foot doctor as infection can happen fast. I had a blister on my foot and now its been a month and still only 90% healed. I would not want to have any toes or foot amputated. Be well and love yourself.

March 1, 2019
A DiabetesTeam Member

@BobbyJoe. Also NEVER GO AROUND THE HOUSE WITHOUT SHOES and wear diabetic socks. Also soak your feet in non-perfumed foot soaker and use epsom salts as they will kill germs in your feet. Dilute 3 parts water to 1 part salts and do not soak more than 10 minutes. If you do not take care of your feet, you may lose them as diabetics and amputations go hand-in-hand. As for pedicures, do not go to a salon unless you know they are completely sanitized and so is their equipment plus the tub must be sterile. I got two major foot infections and have lost two toenails on my left foot because they were severely ingrown and infections were a problem. I use a soaker called Gehwohl (from Germany) and it has epson salts and also has antibiotic crystals inside. I have a sterile foot soaker and only use that for soaking my feet. Do not use perfumed feet cream at all; make sure your feet are completely dry and also wear shoes that are not too tight. The doctor at my wound clinic told me too many of her clients wear their shoes too tight and not the right socks. George's cream is unperfumed, hypoallergenic and keeps my feet moisturized.

February 2, 2017
A DiabetesTeam Member

Get to a Hospital Emergency. "NOW" and see a Vascular Surgeon I LOST my big toe due to a Diabetic foot ulcer that was on the ball of right foot just under my right foot big toe and I left it 80% healed for 1&1/2 months and now I have no big toe on my right foot so don't listen to people with there home remidies and go see a specialist right away!

September 21, 2020

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