CLINICAL APPROACH AND WOUND MANAGEMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS

The most common reasons for hospital admissions among diabetic patients include monitoring of blood sugar regulation, diabetic ketoacidosis, renal failure, retinopathies, and foot problems. Surgical debridement, considered the primary treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, is performed to reduce pressure caused by weight-bearing on the ulcer, and to address lower extremity ischemia and foot infections. The care and management of diabetic foot ulcers, which pose a serious health problem and are significant causes of morbidity and mortality both globally and in our country, are of utmost importance. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for managing diabetic foot ulcers. Within this multidisciplinary team, nurses play a life-saving role as they are actively involved in the patient’s treatment and care process and spend the most time with the patient. This case study was planned to present the clinical approach and wound management in the care of a patient with a diabetic foot ulcer located under the right big toe. Diabetic foot ulcers are a global concern due to their significant contribution to amputation rates. Managing chronic wounds is an extremely challenging and complex process. A multidisciplinary team approach is essential for the care and management of diabetic foot ulcers. Effective wound management requires identifying the underlying cause, implementing cause-specific treatment and care, considering other risk factors, and applying individualized treatment and care tailored to each patient. For this reason, in managing diabetic foot ulcers, nurses play a pivotal role from the initial patient encounter. This includes taking a comprehensive medical history, identifying the patient-specific risk factors, conducting physical examinations to assess the affected foot for temperature, moisture, color, edema, and capillary refill time, performing neurovascular assessments, monitoring circulation through pulse evaluation, examining the skin surrounding the ulcer, and planning, implementing, and evaluating interventions to identify pathogens causing the ulcer. These steps are the cornerstone of care.