Treatment
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:
Medication
Regranex gel is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer. It has been shown to speed wound healing.
No Weight-bearing
Keeping pressure off the foot ulcer promotes healing. Sometimes special casts or boots are placed on the foot to “off-load” pressure from the ulcer.
Wound Care
Cleanse the wound regularly and change the dressings often to prevent infection.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics may be used to prevent an infection. You may need to take the medicine for 4-6 weeks.
Blood Sugar Control
Infected ulcers are likely to cause high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels lower immune response and prevent wound healing. Therefore, improved blood sugar control—with adjustments in diet or medications—aids in fighting infections and healing wounds. Sometimes insulin shots are needed in the short-term to achieve optimal blood sugar control.
Skin Graft
Bioengineered skin graft or human skin graft can be used to treat diabetic foot ulcers which fail to heal with conventional treatments. Skin grafts have been shown to speed the healing process.
Surgery
The removal of dead tissue around the wound, or debridement , is often needed to clean the wound and promote healing. Bypass surgery to improve blood flow within the arteries of the legs may help with wound healing and spare amputations. As a last resort, amputation surgery may be needed to stop the spread of infection to the rest of the body.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy appears to help reduce major amputations. People with nonhealing wounds are placed in a chamber. Pure oxygen is pumped into the chamber, which saturates the blood with oxygen. This oxygen-rich blood helps form new blood vessels, which helps the wound heal.
If you are diagnosed with a diabetic foot ulcer, follow your doctor's instructions.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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