Diabetes-related foot ulcer refers to a wound or sore in the ankle or foot, which occurs as a result of nerve damage, impaired arterial circulation, unusual strain on the foot or a combination of all of these factors.
Part of foot ulcer prevention is the good treatment of high blood sugar, high blood pressure and lipid disorders as well as non-smoking. Regular foot examinations at the clinic, determining the risk category, professional preventive guidance and foot therapy as well as good self-care of the feet are key to preventing foot ulcers.
A person with diabetes may also have structural issues with their feet predating diabetes, which can make them more predisposed to an ulcer later on.
In most cases, the predisposing factors alone are not enough to cause a serious problem, which is caused by an additional external cause, a trigger factor, which triggers a chain of events leading to the actual foot problem. Typical trigger factors include mechanical injuries, heat-related injuries or injuries resulting from the use of products that corrode the skin.