Living with Diabetes: When to See a Specialist for a Slow-Healing Wound

Diabetes is a common disease that is characterized by high blood sugar levels. High sugar can lead to disruption of many bodily systems, creating health problems from tooth decay to nerve dysfunction to slow-healing wounds, especially on the legs, ankles, and feet.

At Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota, Dr. John Bollins and his team provide wound care services for their patients with a variety of open sores, including those caused by diabetes. If you have a slow-healing wound, here’s why you need to see a specialist for treatment.

Diabetes and slow-healing wounds

If left untreated, slow-healing ulcers can become serious. High levels of blood glucose can, over time, damage the peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy), leading to symptoms that include tingling, weakness, and pain. Damaged nerves can also lead to poor circulation, making it difficult for blood, which is needed for skin repair, to reach the areas affected, leaving them open, oozing, and increasing the risk of:

• Fungal infections
• Bacterial infections
• Gangrene (tissue death)

About 15% of diabetics develop foot ulceration. And these wounds, including cuts, grazes, and blisters, can raise the risk of amputation. That’s why it’s so important to check your feet daily and to seek medical treatment if you find something troubling.

And if you can keep your glucose levels under control, you can reduce your risk of developing slow-healing wounds.

More on neuropathy

A major source of peripheral neuropathy is blood sugar levels that are consistently higher than normal. Over time, they damaged both nerves and vessels, causing the affected areas to lose sensation.

Neuropathy is most common in the hands and feet, and it means you might not feel a wound develop unless you inspect your extremities every day. If you’re unable to do it yourself, enlist a family member or friend to help you with the task. It can prevent ulceration before it becomes entrenched.

More on circulation

People with diabetes are twice as likely than their healthy peers to develop peripheral vascular disease, a condition of poor circulation, and they make up 49.7% of those affected. Peripheral vascular disease narrows the blood vessels, decreasing blood flow to the limbs and affecting red blood cells’ ability to move through the vessels easily. Furthermore, high blood glucose levels increase the blood’s thickness, further restricting flow.

Immune system problems

Many people with diabetes also have problems with their immune systems. The number of fighter cells sent to heal existing wounds, and their ability to act appropriately, is often reduced. That means wound healing is slower and the risk of infection is higher.

Infection

An infection can take hold in a diabetic wound for a couple of reasons. First, if your immune system isn’t functioning well, your body may be overwhelmed trying to fight off bacteria that cause infection.

Second, high blood sugar levels increase the possibility of infection because bacteria thrive on the extra sugar and can outlast a weakened immune system.

If you have an infection but fail to treat it, you can experience complications such as gangrene or sepsis (blood infection).

When to see a specialist

Diabetes is one of the foremost causes of amputation of the lower limbs globally. Charity Diabetes UK notes that foot problems are the most frequent reasons for hospitalization amongst patients with diabetes. Many of these visits are preventable through simple foot care routines, and Dr. Bollins can help you adopt a healthy routine, as well as treat any ulceration or infection you may have. All people with diabetes should have podiatric check-ups as part of their regular medical routine.

Want to learn more about how diabetes affects your feet and what you can do to prevent ulceration and infection? To schedule a consultation with Dr. Bollins, call Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota at our Hibbing, Duluth, Cloquet or Ely, Minnesota, office or book your appointment online.

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