![]() ![]() If something looks suspicious, I call the foot doctor immediately,” she said. She’s found one of the most important things she can do to prevent future infections and protect the overall health of her vulnerable feet is to take pictures nearly every day of the affected area. I have to be careful,” Lucibello explains. ![]() Despite that my blood sugars are in excellent control, my ulcer flares up, especially during warm seasons. “Today, I have a small but manageable foot ulcer where that original hole existed. Wound VAC treatment is a device that reduces the pressure around a wound to expedite the healing process, but it’s time consuming and costly. She was placed on a wound VAC to help stimulate the development of new, healthy tissue. Lucibello told Health line she quickly developed sepsis, a life-threatening infection in her blood. “As a result of the surgery, it created a blister, which then turned into a gaping hole in the outside of my left foot.” “Five years ago, I had a voluntary bunion surgery that did not heal correctly,” explains Rosina-Maria Lucibello, who’s had type 1 diabetes for more than 20 years with well-controlled blood sugar levels. That means excess glucose builds around nerve endings, slows the rate of blood flow, and prevents proper healing. Even with reasonably well-managed blood sugar levels, a person’s blood sugars will never be as “perfect” as those of someone without diabetes. This lack of feeling in a patient’s extremities means a small cut or blister can easily go unnoticed and worsen without a patient realizing.Īdditionally, higher than normal blood sugar levels create an ideal environment for infection. The first reason is long-term diabetes can lead to loss of feeling in one’s feet and hands, even with well-managed blood sugar levels. Northwestern medical engineers and research team were able to incorporate this particular protein into an “antioxidant molecule” that essentially turns itself on at body temperature, enabling the body’s ability to rebuild its own tissue and thus heal more quickly.įor people with diabetes, the need for faster healing is twofold. ![]() “The novelty is that we identified a segment of a protein in skin that is important to wound healing,” explains Guillermo Ameer, leader of the study from Northwestern. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process more quickly. Researchers hope this means it will make its way through the U.S. The bandage device uses the body’s own healing ability without drugs or other pharmaceutical products. “During head-to-head tests, Northwestern’s bandage healed diabetic wounds 33 percent faster than one of the most popular bandages currently on the market,” explains a recent press release. Researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois have developed a new device that they hope will not only expedite the healing speed of a wound for diabetes patients but also prevent the need for infection-based operations altogether. At its potential worst, an amputation could be required. Something as benign as a blister can easily become infected, eventually requiring surgery or multiple treatments. Getting blisters from breaking in a new pair of shoes isn’t a big deal for many, but a person with diabetes could pay a much bigger price. ![]()
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