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Diabetes-related foot ulcers are often associated with numbness in the feet. According to patients, the fact that these ulcers can also cause severe and unpredictable pain does not receive sufficient attention within the health care system, a doctoral thesis from the University of Gothenburg reports.

Hard-to-heal foot ulcers in people with diabetes typically occur in areas of the foot subject to pressure, such as the toes, the forefoot and the heel. Foot ulcers can develop in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with underlying causes including impaired blood circulation and nerve damage.

The thesis is based on surveys and interviews with patients suffering from diabetic foot ulcers, a condition where pain can occur despite reduced sensation. The intensity varies significantly, ranging from a mild, dull ache to the sensation of being cut with a knife on the sole of the foot; furthermore, the pain can be unpredictable.

"Patients live with the reality that intense pain can strike suddenly, at any time of day or night. They cannot predict when the pain will occur, which leads to sleep disturbances and makes it difficult for them to plan their daily lives and social activities," says Anneli Ringblom, a district nurse who holds a Ph.D. in nursing science and health.

Can I work in the garden? Can I go to the party? Do I have enough pain relief?

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