Advanced wound care focused on healing and saving the limb
A foot ulcer in someone with diabetes is not an ordinary wound. Reduced sensation means it may be painless, and reduced circulation means it heals slowly — so it is often noticed late.
Treatment addresses the wound, the pressure causing it, the blood supply feeding it and the infection threatening it. All four matter.
They heal when four things are addressed together: dead tissue is removed so healthy tissue can grow, pressure is taken off the ulcer so it is not being re-injured with every step, blood supply is assessed and improved where possible, and infection and blood sugar are controlled. Dressings alone rarely work, because the cause keeps acting on the wound. With proper care many ulcers heal over weeks to months — but delay is what costs people toes and feet.
Understanding the Condition
A diabetic foot ulcer is an open wound on the foot that develops in people with diabetes, most often on the sole beneath a pressure point such as the ball of the foot or under the big toe.
Diabetes affects the feet in two ways that combine badly. Nerve damage reduces sensation, so an injury or a rubbing shoe causes no pain and goes unnoticed. Reduced blood supply then means the skin breaks down and heals poorly.
Because the wound is painless, patients often walk on it for weeks. That continued pressure is why these ulcers deepen rather than close.
If you have diabetes, checking your feet daily — including between the toes and the soles — is the single most effective thing you can do to catch a problem early.
Warning Signs
Seek assessment if you notice any of the following on your feet.
Spreading redness, a foul smell, fever, or a wound that suddenly looks worse needs same-day medical care. Infection in a diabetic foot can progress quickly, and early treatment is what preserves the limb.
Causes & Risk Factors
Several factors combine to cause diabetic foot ulcers.
Treatment
Treatment works on several fronts at once. Addressing only the wound surface is why many ulcers fail to heal.
Treatment plans are individualised after assessment of the wound, the circulation and your overall diabetic control.
What to Expect
Examination of the wound and the foot, with checks of sensation and blood supply.
Blood tests, swabs where infection is suspected, and imaging if deeper involvement is a concern.
Debridement, dressings, offloading and antibiotics where indicated.
Footwear advice, foot care guidance and regular review to stop the ulcer returning.
Your Surgeon
Dr. Kamalakkhannan is an experienced general, laparoscopic and laser surgeon with over 15 years of expertise across a wide range of surgical conditions.
Diabetic foot care sits between wound management and vascular assessment, and both are handled here rather than split between clinics.
Why Patients Choose Lapser
Extensive experience across general, laparoscopic and laser surgical procedures.
Examination and, where needed, imaging come before any talk of treatment.
Many of these conditions need monitoring rather than surgery, and you will be told so plainly.
Recommendations based on your findings, symptoms and individual circumstances.
Where an incision is needed, techniques aim for the least visible result possible.
Consultations every day, including evenings, at Sithalapakkam and Velachery.
Book a consultation if you have any of the following.
Early evaluation helps identify the most appropriate treatment and often provides reassurance.
Frequently Asked
They heal when dead tissue is removed, pressure is taken off the wound, blood supply is addressed and infection and blood sugar are controlled. Dressings alone are rarely sufficient.
Many improve over weeks to months with proper care. Healing depends on the size and depth of the ulcer, circulation, infection and diabetic control.
Nerve damage from diabetes reduces sensation. A painless ulcer is not a mild one — it is often why the wound has gone unnoticed and worsened.
Largely, yes. Daily foot checks, well-fitting footwear, prompt attention to calluses and good diabetic control substantially reduce the risk.
Many ulcers are managed without major surgery, though debridement is often needed. Surgery may be required for deep infection or where circulation must be improved.
Eligible procedures may be covered depending on your policy terms. Our team assists with documentation.
If you have a wound on your foot that is not healing, early assessment protects the foot. Consult Dr. Kamalakkhannan at Lapser Multi Speciality Clinic, Chennai.
The information on this page is for general awareness and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Wounds have several possible causes and treatment that helps one type can be harmful in another, so assessment of the circulation and the cause must come before treatment. Healing times and outcomes vary from person to person. Spreading redness, fever or a rapidly worsening wound requires urgent medical attention.
