Diabetes and Wound Care — How to Treat Wound Ulcers and Foot Sores in Diabetic Patients How wound healing works in diabetics Our skin acts as a barrier between outside germs and bacteria. When an abrasion forms on the skin, the barrier is broken and the wound is left exposed. If harmful bacteria enters the wound at this stage, it has the potential to cause an infection and further complications. In healthy bodies, white blood cells rush to the wound site to destroy bacteria and protect the body from infection. Only after this stage does the tissue regrowth stage begin and the wound gets patched up. In diabetics, the body is unable to produce or use a hormone called insulin. Because of this, the blood sugar level increases which has adverse effects on wound healing. When blood sugar levels rise, they impair the functioning of white blood cells (WBCs). WBCs are imperative for the functioning of the immune system, and without them the body is unable to fight off infection efficiently. If diabetes is not kept under control, it affects blood circulation as well. Slower blood circulation hampers the healing process of the wound as the nutrient supply to the wound site slows down. Oxygenation of the wound site is also vital in the healing process, and slower blood circulation means slower oxygenation. Another risk factor is that diabetes can cause neuropathy (nerve damage) which is the numbing of sensation in parts of the body. Due to this, the diabetic patient might not realize that they have sustained an injury as they will not feel it. Common diabetic wounds: Wounds on the feet pose the biggest risk when it comes to diabetic wounds. This is because neuropathy affects the feet first and it’s highly possible that the patient does not notice a wound forming due to the loss of feeling. •
Foot Ulcers
1. Foot ulcers are open wounds or sores that form on the feet. They are the most common and most highrisk wounds for diabetics. In severe cases, the diabetic wound infection takes over the entire foot, and amputation may be required. Since diabetics suffer from neuropathy, pain is not the first symptom that crops up when they get a foot ulcer. Because of this, they may not notice it until the wound has deteriorated and become infected. Here are some of the signs that you will notice if your foot ulcer has become infected: •
Excessive pus and fluid discharge from the wound
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Foot wound not healing as fast as usual
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Swelling and redness around the wound
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A strange odour coming from your foot
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In serious wounds, dead black tissue called eschar will start to surround the wound