The Impact of Diabetes-Related Chronic Wounds
11/4/2024
MOORESVILLE, NC – At Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, we recognize the significant challenges faced by the estimated 37 million Americans living with diabetes. We are particularly concerned about diabetes-related wounds, which are a leading cause of limb loss. The statistics are sobering: every hour, 10 Americans undergo amputation, and globally, a lower limb is lost to diabetes every 30 seconds. Even more alarming is that up to 55 percent of patients with diabetes will require amputation on the second leg within 2-3 years, and nearly half of those living with an amputation face mortality within the same period.
However, we want you to know that there’s hope. Early detection and specialized care from a wound care center can reduce healing times and amputation risk by almost half when a multi-disciplinary wound care team provides care.
Understanding Risk Factors and Complications
Well-known risk factors for diabetes are age, diet, activity level, obesity, and heredity. For individuals with diabetes, additional risk factors can increase the risk of developing chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers.
These include:
- High blood sugar levels
- Poor circulation
- Immune system issues
- Nerve damage (neuropathy)
About 60 percent of people living with diabetes will develop neuropathy, which can lead to a foot ulcer. Additional factors like peripheral artery disease (PAD), foot and limb deformities, and Charcot Foot can further increase this risk.
Prevention: Your First Line of Defense
At Lake Norman’s Wound Care Center, we believe that prevention is key. Here are our recommendations to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers and reduce your risk of amputation:
- Stop smoking immediately
- Schedule annual comprehensive foot checkups
- Perform daily foot inspections by you or a loved one
- Practice regular foot care, including washing daily and cleaning toenails
- Seek professional help for corn and callus removal
- Wear clean, dry socks
- Choose supportive, well-fitting footwear
- Improve circulation through diet and exercise
Advanced Treatment Options
Despite our best prevention efforts, we know that diabetic foot ulcers can still occur and have a high recurrence rate. That’s why we offer advanced wound care modalities, including:
- Debridement — removing dead tissue from the wound
- Total contact casting — applying a specialized, custom-fitted cast to the affected foot and lower leg. Unlike a regular cast, this one is designed to redistribute pressure away from the wound
- Offloading techniques that take the pressure off the injured area
- Negative pressure wound therapy — involves placing a vacuum over a dressed wound, which draws fluid through the wound and simulates blood flow
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) — provides 100% oxygen in an enclosed chamber with higher-than-normal atmospheric pressure, helping the blood carry more healing oxygen to the wound
Each of these treatments plays a crucial role in preventing infections, promoting new tissue growth, and achieving a successful wound closure. As soon as an ulcer develops, specialized care is important. Remember, early intervention is vital to successful healing.
For more information, call Lake Norman Regional Medical Center’s Wound Healing Department at 704-660-2662.
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