Diabetic Wounds Need Proper Care So They Heal Quicker And With Fewer Complications
Posted on: 3 August 2020
When you have diabetes, your body is under threat of complications over the course of your disease. One of these complications is the development of wounds in your feet. Diabetic foot wounds are fairly common and they can lead to the need for amputation. Consider seeing a podiatrist early in the course of your diabetes so you can learn how to watch for wounds and prevent them. Prompt care is essential once a wound has developed. Here are some treatments for diabetic wounds on your feet.
Relieve Pressure By Staying Off Your Foot
Your podiatrist may advise you to stay off your foot while the wound is healing, but you may also be encouraged to stay as active as you can while protecting your foot. Activity can help with circulation, and good circulation is important for delivering oxygen and nutrients to your wound. You may need to use a shoe with a hard sole or wear orthotics when you need to transfer from your bed, walk to the bathroom, or go about your daily activities so the wound is protected.
Keep The Wound Covered
Certain types of dressings are made specifically to help with wound healing, so your podiatrist might recommend particular types of dressings for you to wear to keep the wound covered. Plus, dressings protect the wound from germs and dirt, and the dressings keep the wound moist so it can heal quicker.
The podiatrist might show you how to apply the dressing yourself for a small wound that's healing well, or you might need to let the podiatrist or a wound specialist change the dressing each time. In addition to changing the dressing, it may be necessary to trim away dead tissue so it doesn't cause an infection in the wound while your skin is trying to heal.
Consider Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments
One reason a diabetic wound is slow to heal is that oxygen is reduced in the tissues. This happens because diabetes affects the circulation in your feet. Your podiatrist may counter this effect by recommending hyperbaric oxygen treatments that make it easier for the wound to be oxygenated.
Manage Your Medical Condition
Your podiatrist may work with your endocrinologist to get your diabetes in better control so you can heal quicker. This might include making changes to your diet and getting more activity so your blood sugar can normalize. You might need changes to your diabetes medications or you may need additional medications that fight infections or increase circulation in your extremities. By doing things that improve insulin resistance and decrease blood sugar, you'll decrease the risk of diabetic foot wounds and help wounds you have to heal quicker.
The worst outcome for a diabetic wound is amputation. This might involve amputation of a toe or the entire foot depending on the location of the wound. You can reduce the risk of amputation by working hard to control your diabetes and learning everything you can about how to protect your feet so you can avoid wounds when possible.
Share