Footwear
Operations
You may be asked to wear a cast, a device to relieve pressure or a special shoe until your ulcer has healed. You should not wear any other footwear until your podiatrist tells you that you can wear your own shoes again.
Sometimes, if an infection becomes severe, OVERLEAF you may need a small operation to clean out INDIVIDUAL ADVICE the wound.
Podiatry appointments Always attend your appointments to have your ulcer treated. You may need regular appointments until the wound has healed. Your appointment may be with a district nurse, a treatment room nurse or your podiatrist. Antibiotic treatment You will be given antibiotics if there are signs of infection in the wound or in the nearby tissue. Report any problems you have with the antibiotics (rashes, nausea or diarrhoea) to the person who prescribed them for you. If this person is not available contact your GP immediately. Do not stop taking your antibiotics unless the person treating you, or your GP tells you to do so. Make sure you have enough antibiotics to finish the course so your treatment isn’t interrupted. If the infection is spreading, you may need to go to hospital. Here you would have antibiotics straight into your blood stream to treat the infection quickly. This only happens rarely.
CONTACT NUMBERS
If an infection is very severe, an amputation may be needed to save healthy parts of the foot. If your circulation is reduced, you may be referred for a small operation to increase blood supply to the ulcerated area.
If you discover any more problems, or if youCONTACT are concerned about the LOCAL NUMBERS treatment of your foot ulcer, contact your local podiatry department or GP for advice immediately.
Individual advice ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................. .................................................................................................
Local contact numbers Podiatry department: .................................................................................................
GP clinic: .................................................................................................
Produced by the Scottish Diabetes Group - Foot Action Group
Looking after your diabetic foot ulcer Diabetes information and advice leaflet