Why do people who are taking insulin for diabetes get foot ulcers?

Several reasons: Diabetics may develop neuropathy, decreased sensation to the skin, which means they are unaware if they step on a thorn or if their shoes are creating a blister on their foot. Nerve damage can lead to bony changes that create abnormal pressure points on the foot. Diabetics also tend to develop small vessel arterial disease, which results in decreased perfusion to the skin and slower wound healing.

Circulation: With uncontrolled diabetes, the circulation gets compromised. As a result, simple wounds don't heal appropriately. If they don/t heal quickly and appropriately, it becomes very easy for bacteria to jump in and wreak havoc.

Insulin: Insulin is for the control of the blood sugars. Often the effects of diabetes are long-standing and the patients develop the complications of the disease unrelated to use of, or not, insulin. This is why we believe that better [tighter] control helps prevent some of the complications of the diabetes.

Neuropathy: Diabetics often times develope decrease in sensation of the feet. This in conjuncion with having possible foot demormities such as bunions, hammertoes, or pominent metatarsal bones may lead to diabetic foot ulcers.

ANYONE: Anyone with diabetes can get a foot ulcer. Insulin-dependent patients just might be more fragile and immunocompromised.

No: Hi: people get ulcers due to a breakdown in their skin from excessive sheer and direct pressure to their feet usually because they have neuropathy. The key to not getting ulcers is being under the care of a podiatrist if you are a diabetic on insulin.

They sure can: It is more than whether you take Insulin or oral medications that makes the difference. It is more a consequence of having had diabetes for a prolonged period of time. While it can happen even with good control, it is more likely to happen with poor control of the blood sugar over time. The effects of diabetes on the circulation along with neuropathy and other changes makes one more prone.

They can: Both Insulin and non-insulin dependent diabetics may develop foot ulcers. You do not even need to be a diabetic for you to develop a foot ulcer.