Why Patients With Diabetes Should Always Have Their Wounds Treated by a Medical Professional

Diabetes is a chronic medical problem where your body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use it properly. The result is high blood glucose levels that, over time, cause issues with various areas of your body and health.

One way diabetes affects your body is through delayed wound healing. High blood sugar affects the circulatory and nervous systems, causing issues with feeling wounds and preventing the necessary nutrients from healing.

Diabetic wounds require specialized care to help them heal and prevent complications. At Calvary Urgent Care, Dr. Joseph Goin and his team specialize in wound care for various injuries and wounds.

How diabetes affects wound healing

Diabetes is a chronic issue with the pancreas, the organ that makes insulin. People with diabetes either have a pancreas that doesn't produce the proper amount of insulin or a body that can't use the insulin it makes effectively.

Anyone, including children, can develop diabetes at any point in their lives. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin to lower blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes happens when the pancreas produces insulin, but the body doesn't effectively use it to lower blood sugar.

High blood sugar from diabetes occurs because insufficient insulin lowers the body's glucose levels. Over time, high blood sugar leads to circulation issues, nerve problems, and delayed healing, especially in the legs and feet.

Diabetes affects wound healing in several ways, including impaired circulation. High blood sugar levels slow down the flow of blood to the wound, which is essential in delivering the proper nutrients for wound healing.

Neuropathy is another condition when high blood sugar levels damage the nerves, making it difficult to know when you have a cut or wound on your legs or feet. You may not get proper treatment, but you may get appropriate treatment if you see the wound is there.

The white blood cells also don't function correctly with high blood sugar levels. They are an essential aspect of the immune system that helps fight off infection in a chronic wound.

Complications of diabetic wounds

People with diabetes should always seek expert care for wounds because the complications of an unhealed wound are severe. Because wound healing is slower in diabetic patients, caring for the skin is essential to prevent complications.

One of the most prevalent complications of a diabetic wound is an infection. Decreased circulation and white blood cells create the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, causing diseases that may become serious.

In people with severe foot or lower leg infections, intravenous antibiotics may be necessary to treat the disease. If those don't work and the infection spreads, doctors may need to amputate a part of the foot or leg to prevent further damage and complications.

A severe infection that spreads throughout the body is called sepsis and can be life-threatening. The only way to ensure you don't suffer from any diabetic complications is by seeking expert care for wounds when they develop.

Expert care for diabetic wounds

Living with diabetes means you need to be more careful about checking your feet and legs for wounds that you may not be able to feel. If you notice a wound, you must get expert care soon.

When you visit our urgent care center, Dr. Goin carefully evaluates the wound to determine the best treatment route. He then cleans the wound to ensure it's free of debris and bacteria.

The following steps depend on the type and severity of the wound. Dr. Goin may recommend topical ointments and routine irrigation for minimal wounds to keep them clean and moist and allow them to heal.

Advanced wounds may require more treatment and repeated appointments. Dr. Goin recommends wet-to-dry dressings, compression wraps, and topical antimicrobial medications that keep the wound clean.

Follow the instructions carefully at home to keep the healing process going. If you have questions about how your wound is healing, don't hesitate to contact us right away.

If you need wound care or have a diabetic ulcer, don't hesitate to call our Humble, Texas practice at 832-680-2273 or request an appointment on our website today.