Diabetic wounds on feet

[gran2790]

Does anyone here have diabetic wounds on feet and if so, how are they being treated.

[Cinnabon]

How is your blood sugar now? (average)

[gran2790]

My a1c is 6.2 at last testing in early oct. I have had diabetic wounds for 5 years on bottom of my feet. located on pressure points on ball at the front of foot. right side size of quarter, open and oozing. Left side size of large match head. I stay off of feet as much as humanly possible. Have power chair and use that when needed. Recently was given zyvox for infection of bone, trying everything before last resort, which will be to start amputation. strict control of bs is so very important. I've been guiltly of less than good control in past and that can lead to some bad stuff happening. Been T2 for 15 yrs, on insulin for the last 8 or so. Have other medical problems to, but nothing that can't be tolerated. Just wanted to know if there were others with wounds.

[seacomp]

I know nothing special about diabetic foot wounds, but I can wish you the best of luck in getting them healed.

[Cinnabon]

I dont have this, but Have u tried seeing a podiatrist (sp)

[gran2790]

Yes, under the care of one and an infectious disease specialist in savannah,ga. They are trying everything to help me and I am trying to stay on good control. But sometime the infection wins. Have to be very careful.Just a wrinkle in a sock can cause a blister and before a day passes it can be infected.thats why its so important that we don't play around with our sugars.Check our bs daily and keep good records. If your Dr. doesn't show proper concern ,ditch him or her and find one that is.There are to many good ones to stay with a bad one.Okay i'm off my soap box. Gotta go, talk at you later.

[lilituc]

I don't know if this is an option for you, but there are specialty wound care centers that treat wounds using the latest methods, including I think hyperbaric therapy. If you could get into one they might be able to help you better.

[Lynne1]

I don't know if this is an option for you, but there are specialty wound care centers that treat wounds using the latest methods, including I think hyperbaric therapy. If you could get into one they might be able to help you better.

I agree. I went to the US news and world report website and found the following hospitals in the south that have a good endo department:

Home A-Z Index Honor Roll Methodology Glossary Search

Your query returned 6 hospitals:

Hospital State Ranked specialties
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C. NC Endocrinology
Florida Hospital, Orlando FL Endocrinology
Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, Va. VA Endocrinology
Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville, N.C. NC Endocrinology
University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville VA Endocrinology
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN Endocrinology


I couldn't find a selection for 'wound care' on the search.

I don't have open wounds, but my grandmother did. She had a small cut on the inside of her foot which turned into a hole about the size of a quarter. she had that for around 10 years (or that's what it seemed like to me). She was meticulous about changing her dressing every day and she was very strict with her diet. She was able to keep the would from getting larger that way. I hope this helps!

[lilituc]

Lynne, I think the wound care centers are independent and not under hospitals usually so that's why it doesn't come up in a hospital search.

[Lynne1]

Lynne, I think the wound care centers are independent and not under hospitals usually so that's why it doesn't come up in a hospital search.
I didn't know that. There's a local hospital that has a burn center and a wound center...that's why I thought it would be in a hospital. How do you know which wound care centers are good?

[lgvincent]

I've found Bactroban to be very helpful with the feet. Any time I get a blister, I'll apply the Bactroban to it and when I don't apply it and get a cut or something that becomes infected, I'll apply it and the redness will clear up within a few days.

[mids1999]

I sufferer from a diabetic foot ulcer on the bottom of my right foot. Ball of foot area.

The wound carer specialist had to cut the infected skin off my foot then I had to use this cream to make sure it didnt get infected while it healed.

I was told no weight bearing for quite a while then pit on crutches and finally they gave me a pair of these really comfortable inserts for my shoes.

I was seeing a wound care specialist at my local hospital for months.
Turned out his other specialty is podiatry.
So now my podiatrist is one of the wound care specialists at my local hospital.

It works on many levels for me and him.

[arath13]

I do not know how big your wounds are but I use to work for KCI that invented the VAC. I actually put people on this when all else would fail. It was an absolute miracle on some of these wounds and a lot of the people had wounds due to implications of diabetes. I would look into the VAC.

IT WORKS!

OUT!!

good luck

[seacomp]

Here is a link on a treatment using honey of all things on diabetic foot wounds.
New Straits Times - Malaysia News Online (http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Saturday/National/20061028083555/Article/local1_html)

Yes, it seems weird, but the newspaper reporting it is legitimate and the researchers are doctors at a University hospital, abeit in Malaysia.

I have no idea if there's any value in this, but I remembered this thread and having seen pictures of diabetic foot ulcers must pass it on.

[Taff]

BJS - Your gateway to the British Journal of Surgery Online (http://www.bjs.co.uk/bjsCda/cda/microJournalArticleDetail.do;jsessionid=0792B8253C F6EA147600E07F467032BA?DOI=10.1002%2Fbjs.6059&issueDOI=10.1002%2Fbjs.v95%3A2&vid=2)

Randomized clinical trial of honey-impregnated dressings for venous leg ulcers (p.175-182)

Andrew Jull, N. Walker, V. Parag, P. Molan, A. Rodgers, on behalf of the Honey as Adjuvant Leg Ulcer Therapy trial collaborators

Abstract
The efficacy of honey as a treatment for venous ulcers has not been evaluated, despite widespread interest. This trial aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of honey as a dressing for venous ulcers.This community-based open-label randomized trial allocated people with a venous ulcer to calcium alginate dressings impregnated with manuka honey or usual care. All participants received compression bandaging. The primary outcome was the proportion of ulcers healed after 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes were: time to healing, change in ulcer area, incidence of infection, costs per healed ulcer, adverse events and quality of life. Analysis was by intention to treat.Of 368 participants, 187 were randomized to honey and 181 to usual care. At 12 weeks, 104 ulcers (55·6 per cent) in the honey-treated group and 90 (49·7 per cent) in the usual care group had healed (absolute increase 5·9 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) - 4·3 to 15·7) per cent; P = 0·258). Treatment with honey was probably more expensive and associated with more adverse events (relative risk 1·3 (95 per cent c.i. 1·1 to 1·6); P = 0·013). There were no significant differences between the groups for other outcomes.Honey-impregnated dressings did not significantly improve venous ulcer healing at 12 weeks compared with usual care. Registration number: ISRCTN 06161544 (). Copyright © 2008 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A little bit more on honey albeit for venous ulcers

Hope it helps

[Taff]

This is different.

[/url]

IMMUNOSYN RELEASES WOUND HEALING PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE FIRST PHASE “PROOF OF CONCEPT TRIAL” IN EUROPE FOR TREATMENT OF DIABETIC ULCERS WITH BIOPHARMECEUTICAL SF-1019

Unfortunately it is a pdf, so I could not get the pictures, but they do look impressive

Anybody know these people?

[url]http://www.immunosyn.com/news-product.html (http://www.immunosyn.com/pdfs/Proof%20of%20Concept%20Trial_Diabetic%20Ulcers%20P hotos%20Release%20w%20Photos%20v2.pdf)

Good luck

[MusicalFan]

Speaking from experience a good team working with you is important.

Depending on the severity of the wounds any or all of the following may be used.

*reduce weight-bearing as much as possible

*keep feet elevated whenever possible

*use an appropriate dressing - there are lots of different types that serve different purposes. Silver-impregnated dressings can help combat infections

*antibiotics (IV and/or oral)

*VAC may be an option

*hyperbaric therapy. Generally seem to look at at least 20-30 treatments for diabetic foot wounds

There are probably lots of other options but these were the ones used on me. My foot infection was severe though, and D was only diagnosed when I was admitted to hospital with the infected foot. The good news is all is healed now although not without some permanent damage - reconstructive work on the foot and the loss of some toes.

I don't know how accessible these options are for you as I don't know how the US system works.

Good luck with it all. I hope a method to enable wound healing can be found that works for you.