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Amputation and diabetes: How to protect your feet

Signs of trouble

Contact your doctor if you have:

  • Ingrown toenails
  • Blisters
  • Plantar warts on the soles of your feet (flesh colored bumps with dark specks)
  • Athlete's foot
  • An open sore or bleeding
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Warmth in one area
  • Pain (though you may not feel anything if you have nerve damage)
  • Discolored skin
  • A foul odor
  • An ulcer that lasts longer than one to two weeks
  • An ulcer bigger than 3/4 inch (2 centimeters)
  • A sore that doesn't quickly begin to heal
  • An ulcer so deep you can see the bone underneath

Your doctor will inspect your foot to make a diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment.

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