Recalcitrant Foot Ulceration in a Patient With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

We describe the case of a middle-aged woman with type 1 diabetes mellitus who presented to the emergency department with diabetic ketoacidosis. An intravenous cannula was inserted into the veins of the dorsum of the right foot due to difficulty in obtaining intravenous access in the upper limb for managing diabetic ketoacidosis. Our patient developed edema and bullae on the dorsum of the right foot and received intravenous antibiotics for bullous cellulitis. Our patient developed ulceration on the dorsum of the right foot and over the next few months was admitted to hospital on several occasions with infected foot ulceration, which required several courses of intravenous antibiotics, larval therapy and surgical debridement of the necrotic eschar and slough. With regular review in the multidisciplinary diabetic foot clinic, the foot ulceration finally healed in eight months. This case highlights the importance of avoiding trauma in any form to the feet of people with diabetes even if aseptic techniques are taken.