Diabetic Foot And Wound Care

Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a chronic disease that occurs due to the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or cannot use this hormone properly. Diabetes can negatively affect many parts of the body, leading to various ailments. One of them is the development of wounds called diabetic foot.

Diabetic foot is a condition that occurs at least once in every five diabetics. However, if not treated effectively, it is a serious condition that can lead to limb loss.

WHAT IS DIABETIC FOOT? HOW IS IT TREATED?

Diabetic foot is the condition of chronic wounds on the feet that can occur in long-term diabetes. Uncontrolled blood sugar can develop due to various reasons such as not following the diet, nerve damage, vascular occlusion, and inadequate foot hygiene.

Diabetes affects the capillaries over time. Sometimes it causes inflammation (pus) in the nerves and sometimes in the veins. These inflammations also lead to the development of scars on the feet.

Diabetic foot wounds are evaluated in three main groups. These are foot wounds that develop due to pressure, trauma-induced foot wounds and vascular disease-related foot wounds.

Diabetic foot disease is a condition that should be taken seriously. Gangrene may occur as a result of diabetic foot wounds that are not treated at the right time and in the right way, and in this case, finger, foot or leg amputation may be required to prevent the spread of infection.

Timely healing of diabetic foot wounds is of great importance in order to prevent the disease from reaching this point.

In the treatment, first of all, the area should be cleared of dead tissues. There are products specially developed for this purpose, which are used under the control of a physician. In the next step, healthy cell growth should be ensured in the area that is cleaned of dead tissues with certain dressings and wound care drugs.

In diabetic foot treatment, the course of the wound is evaluated by the physician with regular follow-up. In wounds that do not heal with medication and care, tissue can be transferred from different parts of the body. In some cases, stem cell therapy can also give positive results.

HOW IS WOUND CARE APPLIED?

• Diabetic foot wounds should be performed by specialist health personnel as recommended by physicians. However, it is important for diabetic patients and their relatives to know the correct wound care in order to continue the treatment correctly.
• First of all, it should be known that in diabetic foot care, ointments or medications purchased with hearsay information should not be applied to the wound. Because careless care can cause more harm than good.
• One of the first and most important steps in wound care is cleaning. Diabetic foot wounds should be cleaned regularly, dead tissues should be removed and the development of microbes in the area should be prevented. The flow from the wound should be removed and the area should be moistened. In the wound cleaning process, a substance called physiological saline is generally used together with sterile water.
• After cleaning the wound, it is necessary to cover it with gauze to protect the area against external effects. Factors to be considered when closing the zone; not creating a warm and humid environment, making sure that the bandage absorbs the discharge, and does not stick directly to the skin. If the flow in the wound increases, the dressing material should be changed.
• The risk of infection of the wound is one of the most critical issues. Because it can worsen the course of the disease and lead to irreparable situations. Open wounds are the most easily contagious environment for germs. In this respect, one should be very careful during dressing, and hygiene must be taken care of at every stage of dressing.
• There are a large number of special products used in wound care. But for every wound, the same product may not be suitable. Which of the many products to use, from ointment to liquid, from pain relievers to cleansers, should also be decided by the physician.