23 April 2011

How Diabetes Affects Wound Healing

Diabetes is a disease where the body cannot effectively use blood glucose. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and kidney diseases, one about 18 million Americans are known to have diabetes and 5.2 million of the condition is not diagnosed.Patients with diabetes often find themselves in need of surgery for one reason or another. If this is an elective procedure, or emergency surgery, your diabetes affects the way your body protects and heals in several ways. Tight control of blood glucose are a crucial part of the postoperative course, especially when it comes to the surgical wound healing. Here are some of the ways that uncontrolled diabetes may delay the healing of wounds: bad Circulation: arteries play an important role in the circulatory system carrying blood pumped by the heart to the rest of the body. High blood glucose levels stiffening arteries and cause narrowing or obstruction of the blood vessels leading to a decrease in blood flow. With a decrease in the flow capacity of the Organization to obtain oxygen blood and nutrients for the site of injury is also decreased. A wound that does not receive the necessary amount of blood flow, oxygen and nutrients that would will exhibit a delay in the healing process.Damage to nerves: long standing and uncontrolled diabetes affects the nerves and their functioning. Most often, this results in loss of sensation - a condition called diabetic neuropathy. The sensation is one of the most effective means, our bodies, we would like to know when something is not right. Through the sensation of pain, we can discover the presence of infection, blisters, or the opening of a surgical wound. In diabetic patients with nerve damage, this sensation is lost, and therefore these potential problems can be detected. This can lead to a neglected injury, delays in the treatment and the healing of wounds sustained.Impairment of the immune system: diabetes reduces the natural capacity of the body to fight infections. An increase in blood glucose levels cause a dysfunction of the immune cells. Therefore, minor infections can transform the major problems and most small wounds can become great defects due to a rupture in the healing process.What you can do to improve wound healing in diabetic patients healingWound can often be a long and difficult effort. The key to the promotion of healthy healing and prevention of diabetes complications wound is to keep your blood sugar under control. Other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol should also be checked if it is present. Maintain a healthy diet, a consistent and frequent surgical monitoring exercise routine are all effective ways to manage blood glucose levels and the required necessary nutrients for the healing of wounds.