Chronic wound is the name given to all wounds that heal late or poorly or do not heal at all. A wound takes this name if it does not heal within 4-6 weeks despite treatment.
The underlying diseases are diabetes, vascular occlusion, bed pressure sores, and the accompanying factors are obesity, smoking, general condition disorder, advanced age, cancer, some medications used. In addition, inappropriate footwear and foot deformity are increasing causes.
How Chronic Wounds Occur in Diabetes Patients?
Due to insufficient nutrition of the tissue, the treatment becomes even more difficult as an infection settles in the area that does not heal.
In diabetic patients, the problem of healing of wounds increases as a result of deterioration of the leg nerves (neuropathy), blockage of the vessels and weakening of the defense system.
In diabetic patients, even a small rash or a wound that starts is very important. It requires careful follow-up and treatment. Most of the patients in this condition develop chronic wounds on the feet. In half of the patients with chronic wounds, if adequate treatment is not performed, bad results up to amputation are seen.
What Should Diabetes Patients Do to Prevent Chronic Wound Formation?
1. They should keep their sugar under control.
2. Since the protective sense of feeling will be lost in these patients, they should carefully check their feet for wounds every day (with the help of a mirror, with the help of relatives).
3. Every day the feet should be washed with warm water and soap, dried with a soft white towel and cared with emollient cream.
4. Nails should be carefully cut straight, cotton seamless socks should be changed daily.
5. Shoes should be soft, round and closed toe, non-squeezing model. Flip-flops, high heels, narrow open-front shoes should not be worn. Always wear socks (at least two shoes alternately).
6. Calluses, ingrown toenails, fungal diseases should not be treated on their own, they should seek the help of a specialist physician.
7. Absolutely should not go barefoot. They should not touch heaters and hot water bags.
8. Feet should be lifted up during long periods of sitting (every two to three hours), rest and exercise should be balanced well (long walking, long sitting times are not appropriate).
8. Antibiotic creams should not be applied uncontrolled. Absolutely no closure should be made with plaster or band-aid.