Wound-care guide · Patients and families

Diabetic foot wounds: when to call and what to share

A diabetic foot wound may worsen without much pain. New drainage, redness, swelling, odor or color change should be reported promptly.

Check the foot every day if sensation is reduced

Report changes instead of waiting for the next routine visit

Keep pressure off the wound as instructed

Information the clinician needs

Describe the wound and the foot, not just the dressing.

When the wound was first noticed
Changes in size, depth, drainage, odor or surrounding skin
New redness, warmth, swelling, pain or fever
Footwear, offloading and how much the patient is walking

Who may need to be involved

Diabetic foot wounds can require more than one specialty, particularly when blood flow, infection or pressure is part of the problem.

Podiatry for foot structure, pressure and procedures
Vascular evaluation when circulation is reduced
Primary care or endocrinology for diabetes management
Surgery or infectious disease for deeper infection or tissue loss

Urgent foot changesA cold, pale, blue or black foot, sudden severe pain, rapidly spreading redness or signs of severe infection require urgent medical evaluation.