PODIATRIST DISCUSSES HOW DIABETES AFFECTS WOUND HEALING

According to Steven Hawley, DPM, a foot and ankle physician with UPMC, "A small cut or bruise may not seem like a big deal, but for millions of Americans with diabetes, they can be. For individuals with diabetes, all wounds are a serious health concern and require careful attention. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop peripheral vascular disease, a condition of poor circulation."

 

Dr. Steven Hawley

 

"Diabetes can also weaken our immunity which complicates wound healing. If your immune system isn’t functioning at its best, your body may struggle to fight off bacteria that cause infection. Higher-than-normal blood sugar levels increase the possibility of infection because bacteria thrive on the extra sugar that’s available in the bloodstream. If your infection is untreated and left to spread, it can lead to complications such as gangrene or sepsis," says Dr. Hawley.

 

Source: Sun Gazette [12/12/20] 

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News