No matter how small a wound is, you should not ignore it if you have diabetes.
Diabetes is a serious disease where the body can't use glucose, or sugar, the way it is supposed to, leading to a number of complications, some of which make it harder for wounds to heal.
Louis Pilati, MD, Medical Director of the Wound & Hyperbaric Medicine Center, Kettering Health Network encourages patients with diabetes to be more proactive when it comes to wound care.
"Patients with diabetic wounds require an advanced wound care team consisting of a wound and hyperbaric specialist that can manage a patient's wounds appropriately," said Dr. Pilati. "Some treatments may require a reduction in swelling or a specialized cast to help offload pressure and possibly hyperbaric therapy. We also want to ensure that the patient has proper fitting shoes and orthotics to prevent further wounds from occurring. Some patients may require vascular surgery to evaluate the blood flow in their legs."
Dr. Pilati said that at times wounds require an orthopedic foot surgeon to do complex removal of dead tissue and reconstruction if needed.
"Having an infectious disease specialist to help manage it is the final component to the team," Dr. Pilati added. "This is the approach that we take at the Kettering Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine Center. We have all the components of that team to begin working quickly on patients with diabetic complex wounds. The longer a patient with a diabetic wound goes without a comprehensive team of specialists, the greater their risk of amputation."
Some tips for diabetics on how to avoid amputation include:
- Make a habit of checking your feet every single day. Check for injuries (swelling, redness, blisters) and nail problems.
- Don't let your feet dry out and crack. Lotion your feet daily.
If you notice a sore, take action immediately:
- Apply a triple antibiotic cream
- Cover the sore with a light gauze
- Make an appointment to see a wound specialist
"Patients with diabetes can develop a lack of feeling in the lower extremities and this causes patients to have a decreased sensation making them more susceptible to developing a wound," Dr. Pilati said. "They may not even realize they have a wound and if it goes unattended over a long period of time, this can cause a much more complicated and deeper wound. Also patients with diabetes tend to have decreased blood flow over time because of the diabetes and this lends to circulatory problems causing wounds to not heal adequately."
Find about more about diabetes education and wound care at Kettering Health Network.
