Ulcer can refer to any open wound or sore. A diabetic ulcer usually involves the foot or leg, and serious medical problems can result.

Improper foot care or injury can cause foot ulcers that become dangerous if not treated early. Most leg amputations in the United States and other developed nations happen to people with diabetes, and foot ulcers occur before the majority of these amputations. However, foot ulcers are preventable, and prompt treatment often prevents serious consequences.

Prevention of foot ulcers includes:

• Daily foot inspections and hygiene
• Regular examinations by a physician
• Proper footwear and toenail care
• Control of glucose (blood sugar) and blood fats
• Avoiding smoking

Treatment options include wound care, medications such as antibiotics, skin substitutes and sometimes surgery.

People with diabetes are also at increased risk of developing pressure ulcers (bedsores). A pressure ulcer is the breakdown of skin and underlying tissue that can occur if a person stays in one position too long without shifting weight. As with foot ulcers, prevention and early treatment are key to reducing future complications.

Other ulcerative disorders associated with diabetes include a mouth infection called thrush and several obscure skin conditions. There is little evidence linking diabetes to the most familiar kind of ulcer, the peptic ulcer that affects the stomach, but diabetes may complicate recovery from peptic ulcers.