Diabetes mellitus wounds – treatment and treatment at home

One of the manifestations of diabetes mellitus is long wound healing. This creates the risk of infection of the affected part of the epidermis. To exclude health-threatening consequences, you need to be able to handle wounds, start treating them in a timely manner, and keep tubes with suitable ointments with you.

Causes of Poor Wound Healing in Diabetes

Sugar levels in people with diabetes rise, causing the blood to thicken. This disrupts blood circulation (diabetic angiopathy), therefore, makes it difficult to transport nutrients to organs and tissues, which then leads to the destruction of small vessels. This is why cuts and abrasions in diabetics take a long time to heal. Healing of wounds in diabetics is a long process due to other complications characteristic of the disease: 

  • weakening of immunity;
  • nervous system disorders, diabetic neuropathy;
  • infection;
  • untimely treatment.

Causes of wounds

The content of sugar in the blood in diabetes mellitus increases, blood circulation in the legs worsens, small vessels are affected, and difficult-to-heal wounds appear. There are complications such as diabetic neuropathy, in which nerve endings are destroyed and the skin becomes extremely vulnerable. If you don’t get into the habit of taking care of the body, you can end up with disability.

Wounds on the legs with diabetes

Why do people with diabetes have legs in the affected area? This is directly related to impaired blood circulation in the vessels and capillaries, due to which nerve endings are soon destroyed and, as a result, sensitivity decreases (diabetic neuropathy). Because of this, diabetics do not immediately pay attention to calluses on the feet or wounds obtained when walking barefoot, which cause skin cracking, and then suppuration and infection. Therefore, medical assistance is provided on time. The patient develops festering ulcers, diabetic foot, nail and skin fungus, weeping wounds appear.

Violation of blood circulation can lead to the development of diabetic angiopathy, when, as a result of impaired blood flow, muscle atrophy develops (the limbs become cold, turn blue).

Neglected wounds also cause the development of gangrene, which is almost impossible to get rid of. With the rapid development of the disease, limbs can even be amputated. The presence of long non-healing wounds on the legs is a good reason to see a doctor, since they are the main symptom of diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes wound treatment

If you have all the signs of diabetes, you need to treat your wounds, first of all, with the help of a doctor. A professional will tell you how to care for your skin, taking into account your individual characteristics. Below is a list of items that a diabetic patient should have with him (at home, in the car, at work, etc.):

  • sterile bandages, cotton wool;
  • tampons for blotting injuries;
  • nourishing fatty cream;
  • ointments;
  • antiseptics.

Which wound ointment is best to use?

Water-based antiseptics – Chlorhexidine, Furacilin or Dioxidin. For wound healing – Solcoseryl, Trofodermin. Ointments containing antibiotics to prevent infection (Levomekol or Levosin).

Forget about treating injuries with iodine and brilliant green forever, as these drugs contain alcohol and slow down the already long-term healing. Also, do not use hydrogen peroxide on wounds.

It is necessary to treat cuts and injuries daily, as even an almost healed wound can begin to bleed and fester again. To prevent infection and the appearance of new inflammation, you need to do the following:

  1. Treat the injury with an antiseptic (such as saline).
  2. Cover the abrasion with a tape or bandage to keep bacteria out of it.

If suppuration appears, it means that an infection has appeared in the scratch. The wound was reddened and swollen, while the body temperature increased. Suppuration treatment:

  1. Treat with an antiseptic.
  2. Apply an antibiotic ointment.
  3. Bandage the wound.
  4. After stopping the discharge of pus, use ointments with a greasy consistency for healing.

Folk remedies for wound healing

The use of folk remedies is permissible only when the patient does not have severe damage to the skin. In the presence of suppuration, treatment is prescribed by a doctor! All ingredients are sold in pharmacies.

Sunflower root

How to cook:

  1. Rinse the root. Tear off the lateral processes. 
  2. Leave in water for 10-20 minutes.
  3. Transfer to a jar, pour boiling water over for 15-25 minutes. 
  4. Take orally 100 ml 3 r / day (warm).

Celandine

How to cook (option 1):

  1. Pour 10 g of dried leaves with half a glass of boiling water.
  2. Boil for 30 minutes, tightly closing the lid.
  3. Allow to cool, leaving the broth for 15 minutes.
  4. Strain.
  5. Store in a refrigerator in a container with a sealed lid.
  6. Wipe wounds every day.

How to cook (option 2):

  1. Powder the dried leaves.
  2. Sprinkle over injuries.

How to cook (option 3):

  1. Apply celandine juice to the skin.
  2. Wait until it is completely absorbed.
  3. Repeat several times.

Carrot oil

How to cook:

  1. Grate 500 g of carrots.
  2. Add 200 ml of vegetable oil.
  3. Squeeze through cheesecloth or strainer.
  4. Lubricate wounds.

Burdock juice

How to cook:

  1. Wash the burdock leaves.
  2. Pass through a meat grinder.
  3. Wrap in cheesecloth (with juice).
  4. Apply to lesions 2-3 times a day for 20 minutes.

Therapeutic tools and methods

In addition to medications, the following methods are effective in treating mutilation in patients with diabetes mellitus:

Antibacterial therapyAntibiotic treatment for diabetes is an effective way out of a difficult situation. It is important to remember that antibiotics, in addition to pathogenic microorganisms, also destroy microflora, so it is important to take beneficial bacteria in combination with antibiotics. Antibiotics are prescribed by your doctor.
Vitamins of group B, C, EPatients with diabetes lack vitamins and minerals because their metabolism is impaired, which weakens the immune system. Taking vitamins together will be an important part of diabetes management
High protein dietHow to heal wounds yourself? Remember that you can independently heal minor injuries that are not accompanied by deviations such as fever. When you are undergoing treatment, it is also necessary to follow a diet for the best healing effect of the damage. Why does it matter? Eating meat and fish products, fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts accelerates the healing of injuries, since these products contain vitamin B and ascorbic acid. As with medications, consultation with a doctor is necessary   
Medicinal herbsThis method is described in the section “Traditional methods of treatment for wound healing”
Surgical methodsSignificant ulcerative formations have to be removed surgically. Therefore, regularly check the feet and skin in general for damage to start treatment on time.  
Physiotherapy methods: laser, magnetic field, ultrasoundImprove blood supply to injured tissue, accelerate metabolic processes. Physiotherapy treatment is prescribed after a fresh wound has healed
MassageThanks to improved blood flow, even non-healing and purulent lesions heal faster

Prevention

To prevent diabetes, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle: 

  • give up bad habits (drinking alcohol, smoking);
  • adjust nutrition: reduce carbohydrate intake, drink clean water and fewer sugary drinks, refuse (or, if possible, limit) the consumption of fatty foods, smoked meats, pickled foods, sweets;   
  • move more.

In people with diabetes, the pancreas contains virtually no cells that produce the hormone insulin. Physical activity, as well as a special diet, help to normalize the production of insulin by the body. People with diabetes should carefully monitor their health and skin in order to avoid serious problems. It is useful for every person to know preventive measures and be ready to treat damage.   

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