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Home > Glands & Hormones > Diabetes > 7 Tips to Prevent and Deal With Diabetic Wounds

7 Tips to Prevent and Deal With Diabetic Wounds

October 3, 2022
6 min read
By Sarita Sanke, MD | Dermatology

In this article:

  • Important Wound Care Tips
  • Additional Prevention Tips
  • When to See a Doctor
  • Most-Asked Questions About Diabetic Wound Care
  • Final Word

People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing skin ulcers and wounds on the feet and hands, and they are prone to developing wound infections. (1)

wound care tips for people with diabetes
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This is because diabetes is commonly associated with poor blood circulation, decreased immunity, and loss of sensation in the lower extremities (peripheral neuropathy).

If you or anyone you know have diabetes, it is important to know that even tiny cuts and injuries can develop into major wounds and proper care is necessary to avoid these problems. (2)(3)

Important Wound Care Tips

Here are some common wound care methods you should adopt to help wounds heal faster and prevent infections:

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1. Self-examining your wound

It is necessary to regularly self-check your feet for any changes or injuries.

One easy way to do it is by incorporating a daily foot examination into your shower routine. Look for any cuts, scrapes, minor injuries, skin that seems cracked or dry, and hardened, numb, or blue skin that may not be getting proper blood supply. If you are unable to do it yourself, get someone close to you to do it.

Any changes or cuts should be shown to a doctor immediately. (4)

2. Preventing infection

people with diabetes must prevent the wound from getting infected

If you have a wound, especially on the feet, you should be extra careful to maintain proper sanitation to avoid infections. Dress the wound properly and clean it using an antiseptic recommended by your doctor. (5)

3. Managing blood sugar levels

Controlling your blood sugar levels is the key to healing your wound. Higher blood glucose levels cause a decrease in white blood cell efficiency and make you prone to infections. (6)

Here are a few tips to manage your blood sugar levels:

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  • Consume a healthy diet: Make sure to eat a lot of greens and nonstarchy foods every day. Watch your carbohydrate intake and try to follow the “plate method” of eating. Try to eliminate all refined sugar and high-carb food from your diet. (7)
  • Adopt an active lifestyle: Physical activity is an important factor in regulating blood sugar levels. Try to incorporate at least 20 minutes of exercise into your everyday routine. (7)

Note: Consult your diabetologist before making any changes to your diet or physical activity as combining them with diabetes medications may cause low blood sugar in some people.

4. Taking the pressure off the area

You may be asked to wear some special footwear to avoid putting extra pressure on the area of the wound, called “off-loading.” This helps heal ulcers faster. There are braces and shoes as well as certain dressings available for this. (8)

5. Using monitoring devices at home

using monitoring devices at home can help people with diabetes

At-home monitoring can be considered for diabetic patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy.

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There are smart insoles and socks that can detect extra pressure and temperature changes in the foot that may be a precursor to serious foot wounds. Some studies have shown that these devices help alert patients to any changes in their feet so they can get proper care on time. (9)

6. Removing dead skin and tissue

The removal of dead or damaged tissue is called debridement. Debridement can be done in a number of ways, and it is better to get this done in a hospital setting. (10)(11)

7. Applying honey dressings at home

applying honey to the wound can help promote recovery

Some studies have shown that applying honey to the wound can help in faster healing. Honey has several antioxidants and antiseptic properties. (12)(13)

Note: Do not apply this dressing without a doctor’s approval as improper care can put you at risk of secondary exposure infections.

How to use:

  1. Clean the wound area with warm water to get rid of dirt and germs.
  2. Rub honey on a wound dressing and wrap it around the affected area.
  3. Change the dressing 3–4 times a day.

Additional Prevention Tips

A few factors that can put you at risk for developing foot ulcers are:

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  • Having diabetic neuropathy or decreased sensation in the feet
  • Poor blood circulation due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels
  • Any feet deformity
  • Not wearing the correct shoe size
  • High blood sugar
  • History of foot ulcers
  • Smoking or excessive drinking

To prevent the formation of ulcers on your feet or other body parts.

  • Never pick on a wound, scab, or wart on the feet.
  • Avoid wearing tight socks or shoes when you have a wound on your feet.

When to See a Doctor

If you have diabetes, visit a doctor as soon as you notice any wound or cut on your feet. This can help prevent the development of foot ulcers and amputations.

Most-Asked Questions About Diabetic Wound Care

Can diabetics use liquid bandages?

can diabetics use liquid bandages?

Yes, but gels are preferable according to most doctors.

What is the home remedy for a diabetic wound?

Clean the affected area with warm water daily and dry it properly. Apply an antiseptic to the wound.

What are the best ointments for diabetic ulcers?

Neomycin, gentamycin, metronidazole, etc., are common antibiotic formulations used for diabetic ulcers. (10)

What are the herbal treatments for diabetic ulcers?

Papaya leaves, custard apples, and rosemary are widely used as herbal medicine for diabetic ulcers. However, they may not be as effective as modern medicines in healing ulcers. (14)

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Final Word

Amputations and sepsis are serious and common complications associated with diabetes. It is important to check your feet properly and prevent wound infections to protect yourself from these hazards. (15)

References
  1. Ozgok Kangal MK, Regan JP. Wound Healing. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535406/.
  2. Spampinato SF, Caruso GI, De Pasquale R, Sortino MA, Merlo S. The Treatment of Impaired Wound Healing in Diabetes: Looking among Old Drugs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2020;13(4):60. Published 2020 Apr 1. doi:10.3390/ph13040060.
  3. Burgess JL, Wyant WA, Abdo Abujamra B, Kirsner RS, Jozic I. Diabetic Wound-Healing Science. Medicina (Kaunas). 2021;57(10):1072. Published 2021 Oct 8. doi:10.3390/medicina57101072.
  4. Yazdanpanah L, Nasiri M, Adarvishi S. Literature review on the management of diabetic foot ulcer. World J Diabetes. 2015;6(1):37-53. doi:10.4239/wjd.v6.i1.37.
  5. Diabetic wound care: Foot health: Patients. APMA. https://www.apma.org/diabeticwoundcare.
  6. Xiang J, Wang S, He Y, Xu L, Zhang S, Tang Z. Reasonable Glycemic Control Would Help Wound Healing During the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers. Diabetes Ther. 2019;10(1):95-105. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0536-8.
  7. Diabetes Diet, eating, & physical activity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/diet-eating-physical-activity.
  8. Boghossian JA, Miller JD, Armstrong DG. Offloading the diabetic foot: Toward healing wounds and extending ulce: CWCMR. Chronic Wound Care Management and Research. https://www.dovepress.com/offloading-the-diabetic-foot-toward-healing-wounds-and-extending-ulcer-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CWCMR. Published July 14, 2017.
  9. Lavery LA, Higgins KR, Lanctot DR, et al. Preventing diabetic foot ulcer recurrence in high-risk patients: use of temperature monitoring as a self-assessment tool. Diabetes Care. 2007;30(1):14-20. doi:10.2337/dc06-1600.
  10. Kavitha KV, Tiwari S, Purandare VB, Khedkar S, Bhosale SS, Unnikrishnan AG. Choice of wound care in diabetic foot ulcer: A practical approach. World J Diabetes. 2014;5(4):546-556. doi:10.4239/wjd.v5.i4.546.
  11. Surgical and non-surgical methods of cleaning and removing dead tissue from sores on the feet of people with diabetes. https://www.cochrane.org/CD003556/WOUNDS_surgical-and-non-surgical-methods-of-cleaning-and-removing-dead-tissue-from-sores-on-the-feet-of-people-with-diabetes.
  12. Alam F, Islam MA, Gan SH, Khalil MI. Honey: a potential therapeutic agent for managing diabetic wounds. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:169130. doi:10.1155/2014/169130.
  13. Wang C, Guo M, Zhang N, Wang G. Effectiveness of honey dressing in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1744388118303165. Published September 21, 2018.
  14. Oguntibeju OO. Medicinal plants and their effects on diabetic wound healing. Vet World. 2019;12(5):653-663. doi:10.14202/vetworld.2019.653-663.
  15. Patel S, Srivastava S, Singh MR, Singh D. Mechanistic insight into diabetic wounds: Pathogenesis, molecular targets and treatment strategies to pace wound healing. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332218374031. Published February 20, 2019.
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