It is important for you to realize that you are more likely to have:

· A reaction to certain drugs used during the procedure

· An infection

· A delayed healing process.

As a diabetic, your risks for complications are higher. However, difficulty in healing is the main concern. Casting may also cause pressure ulcers on the skin if your diabetes is severe enough to cause you to lose some of the feeling in your foot. For these reasons, it is important to keep all scheduled follow-up appointments and return sooner if any of the previously mentioned symptoms develop. Your doctor will treat any early suspected infections more aggressively with the knowledge that you are diabetic.

Studies have shown that wound infections occur in 13 to 40 out of 100 of patients with diabetes who have an ankle fracture fixed. Surface infections can usually be treated with antibiotics taken by mouth. Aggressive and deeper infections often require IV antibiotics, surgery to remove the hardware, and sometimes an ankle fusion. Infections that continue to worsen despite aggressive surgery and antibiotics may require an amputation.