According to new French research, the long term Prognosis for diabetic patients treated for foot ulcers is not as good as the initial results of treatment. Even though patients initially respond well to the treatment of the foot ulcers, over time, the outcome tends to move toward the negative.

The results of the study were found after French researchers studied nearly 90 patients with a history of foot ulcers lasting more than 6 months.

In all, nearly 70 of the entire patient set were able to completely heal from the foot Ulcer injury without having amputation. Out of those patients, more than 40 suffered a recurrence of the foot ulcer. After the length of the study, 25 patients were receiving full time care due to the foot ulcer effects on daily activity.

Of all patients, nearly 50% reported being completely healed of all foot ulcers without extended trouble recurring. However, more than 45 patients involved in the study died before the study was completed. Of these patients, 9 died as a result of foot ulcer complications.

The researchers suggested after the conclusion of the study that the medical community should set in place international criteria for the definition of “success” in the care of diabetic foot ulcers.