When a person has diabetes, skin care should be made a top priority. Diabetic pressure ulcers are among the complications commonly experienced in diabetic patients. A pressure ulcer is different than a regular foot ulcer that is so often associated with diabetes. The most common type of foot ulcers occur as a result of poor circulation that causes a delayed healing process in skin lesions. This makes a person more likely to contract an infection, which can lead to amputation or even death. Because of this, even the tiniest scrapes and cuts can pose a real threat to diabetes patients. Diabetes pressure ulcers are slightly different, but they are just as serious and must be treated effectively to avoid serious complications.
Diabetes pressure ulcers occur when skin is broken down as a result of constant pressure that is being placed on it. Being bedridden or in a wheelchair makes a person more susceptible to diabetic pressure ulcers. As a diabetic person gets older, their risk increases for experiencing diabetic pressure ulcers. People with fragile skin are also more likely to get these sores. Urinary or bowel incontinence are other factors that can contribute to the formation of diabetic pressure ulcers.
How To Recognize Diabetic Pressure Ulcers
Knowing how to recognize the symptoms of diabetic pressure ulcers is key when it comes to treating them properly. These wounds experience foru different stages. When it starts, skin becomes red and gradually gets worse with time. This is the first stage in the development of diabetic pressure ulcers. One way to tell if a pressure ulcer is beginning to develop is if the skin does not turn white when pressure is applied to it. During the second state, a blister will form, followed by an open sore. The area around the affected portion of skin will be irritated. The open sore will then become a crater, which means the pressure ulcer has reached the third stage. During this stage, damage is done to the tissue below the skin. Hopefully a person’s diabetic pressure ulcer never advances to the fourth stage, but if it does muscle and bone damage can take place. Tendons and joints may also experience problems if diabetic pressure ulcers get bad enough.
Treatment For Diabetic Pressure Ulcers
The first step to getting diabetic pressure ulcers well is to relieve the pressure from the affected area. Further friction should be avoided at all costs. A person should try not to touch a pressure ulcer. Help from a health care provider can be beneficial when it comes to treating pressure ulcers. Medical professionals will be able to determine what stage the ulcer is in and treat it accordingly. If the pressure ulcer has already advanced to an open sore, the area should be cleaned regularly and be cleared of any dead tissue. A doctor may also prescribe medication that will help with the healing process and prevent infection.
