Expert Wound Care for Diabetic Ulcers: Why Convenient, Accessible Treatment Is Vital

Diabetes is a disease where the body either doesn’t produce enough of the hormone insulin to convert sugar into energy, or the cells become resistant to insulin’s effects. Either way, glucose (sugar) builds up in the bloodstream, damaging many organs and systems.

One of its effects is causing the development of diabetic ulcers, slow-healing wounds on the legs or feet that can become easily infected and lead to many amputations.

At Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota, board-certified general surgeon Dr. John Bollins and his staff offer wound care services to patients with a range of wounds, including diabetic ulcers. Whether you need antibiotic therapy, stem cell or skin grafts, or nutritional counseling, our team has got you covered.

Diabetes and its complications

Diabetes comes in two forms: type 1 (insulin-dependent) and type 2 (insulin-resistant). Type 1 is often diagnosed in childhood, which is why it used to be called juvenile diabetes. Type 2 develops as a result of unhealthy habits, such as a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle, making it the most preventable form.

Diabetes sometimes manifests during pregnancy. This is a temporary condition, and it’s called gestational diabetes.

Food is broken down in the bloodstream into glucose, a simple sugar. The hormone insulin, produced in the pancreas, normally shuttles it into cells, where it’s converted into energy. The problem with diabetes is that if there isn’t any insulin or if the body doesn’t respond to it, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, harming bodily systems.

One way it harms the body is that it roughens the walls of the arteries, the conduits that carry blood from the heart to the body. Rough walls make it easier for plaque to build up (a combination of fats, cholesterol, protein, calcium, and cell debris), which hardens and narrows the artery. The heart has to work harder to pump blood, and it can’t pump enough into the lower extremities.

The lack of an adequate blood supply in the feet means that cuts, scrapes, and other wounds can’t heal well, and the longer they exist, the more likely they are to become infected. In addition, high blood sugar damages the peripheral nerves, meaning you may not feel a cut or sore on your foot, so it can go some time before you realize it’s there.

Up to 85% of diabetes‐related lower extremity amputations start with a foot ulcer.

Treating diabetic ulcers

The primary goal of treating diabetic ulcers is to promote healing as quickly as possible to prevent infection.

To accomplish that, treatment may include:

“Off-loading” pressure from the area
Removing dead skin and tissue (debridement)
Applying medication or dressings to the ulcer
Managing blood glucose and other health problems

If you’ve already developed an infection, treatment may include antibiotic therapy, regular wound care (including dressings and topical medications), and possible hospitalization if the infection is advanced.

To prevent an ulcer from becoming infected, you should:

Keep blood glucose levels under tight control
Keep the ulcer clean and bandaged
Cleanse the wound daily, using a wound dressing or bandage
Avoid walking barefoot

You may be asked to “off-load” even if the ulcer’s infected. That means wearing a brace, boot, or cast, or using a wheelchair or crutches to reduce pressure on the wound and help it heal faster.

Additionally, it’s essential to keep the wound covered and moist to minimize the risk of infection.

If you’re a diabetic and are concerned about non-healing wounds, schedule a consultation with Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota. Call our office in Hibbing, Duluth, or Ely, Minnesota, or book your appointment online.

We proudly accept Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, HealthPartners, Humana, UCare, Medica, and SecurityHealthPlan.