Diabetic Wound Care: Dos and Don’ts

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disease which is characterized by high blood glucose which may be due to insufficient insulin production or when the body’s cells do not respond to insulin. There are two types of diabetes:

Type 1In this type of diabetes, the body is unable to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone which is needed by the body to get glucose from the bloodstream and also into the cells of the body.

Type 2It is a chronic condition, wherein the body is unable to produce enough insulin and is not able to use the insulin properly.

Generally any wound, cuts or blisters are taken normally. They are cured by medication. But in case of diabetes, even a small cut or scratch creates a serious situation. One should not ignore it and should be treated right way. Slow healing can lead to infection and in extreme case can lead to amputation. But now there are certain steps that need to be followed to avert the aggravating problem.

Do: Make a point to check your feet every dayTake care of your foot to check for any cuts, red spots, blisters, or swelling. This very important activity in case feet or legs has a loss of sensation due to diabetic neuropathy. It is a fact that 80 percent of amputations onset with foot ulcer. So make it a daily routine to check your feet before going to bed at night.

Don’t: Avert performing any type of bathroom surgeryIn case you find some wound, consult an expert for this. There are various types of wounds. In some wounds removal of dead tissue is done. Avoid cut off dead skin yourself. This way one can easily help to avert damaging a blood vessel and worsen the problem.

Tip:Beware of cutting corns or lumps by yourself. Avoid using acid-based wart remover. You can use pumice stone to clean the area gently.

Do: Take a "load off"If you have a wound on your foot or leg, stay off your feet. Your doctor may prescribe a contact cast to uniformly redistribute pressure throughout the leg. Other safe option comprises wearing a boot, removable cast-walker or healing sandal. If this is not followed, then it would lead to slow wound healing. Doctor’s advice is must.

Tip:Put on off-loading device, even if you want to just to go to another room. Further, remember to change your wounds dressings as it is crucial for wound care healing. If dressing is not changed affect the moisture balance and delay healing. Further understand the treatment plan from doctor.

Do: In case of stubborn wounds take advice from your doctorCertain wounds are difficult to heal. If debridement, pressure off-loading and antibiotics are not helping, the alternative needs to be considered. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is generally used to treat decompression sickness from scuba diving, is helpful to increase oxygen supply in the blood, which further promotes wound healing. Skin substitutes are another option. They protect the wound and keep bacteria out. Now, skin substitutes can be temporary or permanent or else can be natural or synthetic Another option is maggot (fly larvae) therapy. By use of maggots there can be increase in supply of oxygen to the wound and enhances cellular growth.

Tip:Get an expert opinion of doctor about the ways to heal the wounds that is not healing.

Don’t: Overlook other factors that can help you heal fasterIt is a challenge to deal with a wound. But there are other ways that you can take to speed the process. Take care of keeping your blood sugars within target range because high blood sugar level slows down the healing process. Eat a healthy diet which contains enough protein, calories, vitamins and minerals, which also includes vitamin C and zinc, which are a key for would healing. Abstain smoking as it can weaken your immune system.

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