Diabetes wounds are infected wounds that occur as a result of trauma and injuries due to the deterioration of nerve and vascular structures in diabetics.
How Do Diabetes Wounds Occur?
- Pain sensation is lost as a result of neurapathy (nerve involvement).
- Skin sweating and moisture mechanisms are disrupted.
- Deformity occurs due to foot muscle stiffness.
- Immune system deteriorates
- As a result of deterioration in blood vessels, blood flow is cut off (ischemia) and adequate oxygenation cannot be provided.
- General body resistance deteriorates.
As a result of these, diabetes wounds cannot heal and infection (inflammation) settles on it. The wound grows and causes gangrene formation.
What should be done to prevent diabetes wounds?
- Taking sugar under control
- Lose weight
- Not smoking
- Paying attention to cleanliness every day, washing with warm water and keeping the body dry
- Wearing seamless cotton socks that do not squeeze
- Not using a heater
- Not taking long walks and long rests
- Looking at the discoloration of the area of wound formation with a mirror
How are Diabetes Wounds Treated?
There is no pain in diabetes wounds, so people must be careful.
In the treatment of diabetes wounds, a team must be worked together. This team should include; internal medicine, endocrine, dermatology, orthopedics, neurology, radiology, vascular surgery, plastic surgery, psychiatrist, psychologist, dietician and nurse.
Diabetes wounds are wounds that require long-term treatment. It is very important that the patient and his/her family are careful and patient during the treatment of diabetes wounds. Because diabetes wounds take a long time to heal and there is a risk of recurrence. Diabetes wounds usually occur on the feet. As mentioned above, diabetes wounds on the feet are treated together with a team. There are important criteria that the person should pay attention to during this process. Most importantly, they should take their own precautions and take care to eat and live as directed by their doctor and treatment team.
- Smoking and alcohol should never be used
- Pay attention to weight control (because there should not be too much pressure on the body)
- Always paying attention to cleanliness
- Treatment team examining the patient's veins
- Frequent sugar checks
- Rest for as long as deemed appropriate
- Daily monitoring
The person and the treatment team are very important in the treatment of diabetes wounds. After taking all necessary precautions, the person should follow the road map drawn by the treatment team. People should support each other at this point and stay in constant cooperation.