Signs of Diabetic Wounds That People Often Worry About
Learn the signs of diabetic wounds, from skin patches and sudden blisters to infections and open sores, and why these wounds are so slow to heal.
Diabetes, or high blood sugar, is a disease that can weaken the immune system, damage nerves, and worsen blood circulation. No wonder wounds caused by diabetes are often a worry, because they are hard to heal. So what do wounds caused by diabetes look like? Read the full explanation here.
Signs of Wounds Caused by Diabetes
- Patches on the Skin
Patches appearing on the skin may not yet signal a serious wound. Still, these signs deserve attention because they can turn into a dangerous wound if they keep developing. The patches may be yellow, reddish, or brown and look somewhat like pimples. This condition is known as necrobiosis lipoidica.
Typically, skin patches that signal a wound like this can grow, swell, and harden. This can make the blood vessels very visible, along with pain and itching. As the wound develops, the skin around it usually becomes shiny.
- Skin Suddenly Blisters
Wounds caused by diabetes can show up as skin that suddenly blisters for no clear reason. These wounds usually look like burns, as if the skin had touched something hot. Sudden blistering can occur on the feet, hands, or forearms.
Up close, the blisters caused by diabetes are often quite large. They can even appear in groups on a certain part of the body. However, blisters in people with diabetes usually don't hurt, but they can get worse if they aren't treated promptly.
- Infection
Another sign of a wound in people with diabetes is a skin infection. It usually shows up as specific symptoms in stages, starting with warmth, then pain, then swelling. An itchy rash, small blisters, and even pus can also result from an infection. Skin infections typically occur on the toes, the scalp, or around the nails.
- Open Sores
You can also recognize a wound caused by diabetes by its open form. Blood sugar that rises and stays uncontrolled for a long time can make wounds from cuts or other causes hard to heal. As a result, open sores can appear on parts of the body where blood circulation is poor.
A small wound on the body of a person with diabetes can get much worse if it is put under certain pressure. If left open, it can also cause a fairly serious infection. In fact, a wound that worsens and becomes hard to treat can force the affected body part to be amputated.
Those are the signs of wounds in people with diabetes that you must know and watch for. Typically, this condition can only be treated by keeping blood sugar under control through exercise and good nutrition, along with regular care from a wound specialist.
