Among diabetics, infections of the feet are common, and are a leading cause of hospitalization. An estimated 15% of people with diabetes will suffer from a diabetic foot ulcer. Antibiotics are frequently prescribed to treat this condition, which often leads to lengthy hospitalization, disability and amputations. A startling 85% of diabetes-related amputations in the lower extremities are caused by foot ulcers, and 1 in 5 hospital visits by diabetics are because of foot ulcers. This is often caused by nerve damage, due to high blood sugar. The solution lies in prevention, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. In the case of the diabetic foot ulcer and antibiotics, these powerful drugs are necessary for effective treatment, but care must be taken, as overuse of antibiotics for diabetic foot infections can cause antibiotic resistance, whereby the bacteria become immune and the medicine no longer works.
