New Hope For Diabetic Foot Ulcers

By Author: Kate Smith
Total Articles: 4762
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Diabetic foot ulcers are a major complication of patients with Diabetes Mellitus. The ulcers are wounds or sores that occur on the foot, and may lead to gangrene, serious infections, or amputation. These wounds do not heal, and without treatment they will continue to grow in size. They affect 1 in 6 diabetics, and are the most common cause of lower leg amputations. Diabetics must take extra care of their feet to prevent these ulcers from forming.

Treatment for diabetic foot ulcers varies depending on the type and severity of the ulcer. Patients are first tested for ischemia and given an MRI, X-ray, or bone scan to determine the extent of damage. If the patient has ischemia, they will need to be treated for that condition to restore proper blood flow to the area. The diseased tissue is analyzed to determine the type of infection and antibiotics are given, either intravenously or orally. Surgical debridement is performed to remove necrotic tissue and prevent the infection from spreading. After surgery, the foot must be offloaded using one or more of the following methods: special shoes, casts, crutches, or a wheelchair ...
... to remove pressure. Casts are specially made for each patient to prevent another ulcer from occurring elsewhere. Without proper offloading and debridement, the ulcer would continue to grow and eventually cause enough damage to warrant amputation. A relatively new avenue of research has scientists working with oxygen free radical binding technology. One patented healing gel, sold under the brand Wound-Be-Gone, can bind free oxygen radicals, rendering them inert and unable to slow healing. With Wound-Be-Gone, sterically hindered amines are suspended in a polymer, creating a moist healing gel that protects the wound while also halting the damaging effects of these radicals. This gel is hypoallergenic, available without a prescription and safe for use at any phase in the healing process. This type of healing technology has shown great promise in clinical tests to heal even serious diabetic foot wounds faster, without the expense and time involved with HBOT, or the need for potentially dangerous and life altering surgeries.
www.woundbegone.com
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