Diabetes and Wound Healing – Why is it Slower?

Have you ever wondered why a simple cut or scrape takes longer to heal if you have diabetes? The reason can be due to many factors and can lead to serious health complications, especially when left unchecked.

But why does the diabetic wound healing process take longer?

In this article, we will explore the connection between diabetes and delayed wound healing, discover the reasons behind it, and share tips to promote recovery.

How does diabetes affect wound healing? 

Diabetes is the result of your body’s inability to produce insulin. Insulin is responsible for metabolizing sugar or glucose and turning it into energy. When your body cannot carry out this process naturally, it causes an increase in blood sugar levels, which affects your body’s natural healing process in the following ways:

• Poor blood flow: High blood sugar can damage blood vessels, reducing the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the wound. These are essential for healing.
• Weakened immune system: Diabetes makes it harder for the body to fight off infections, which can slow healing and make wounds worse.
• Nerve damage: Over time, high blood sugar can cause nerve damage (neuropathy), which reduces sensation. This means you might not notice small wounds or injuries until they become serious.
• Chronic Inflammation: Diabetes can lead to prolonged inflammation, which affects the wound healing process.

Signs of slow-healing wounds in diabetic patients

Some signs that your wounds are not healing as fast as they should are: 

• Persistent pain
• Loss of sensation
• Swelling
• Fever and chills
• Bad odor from the wound
• Pus 

Factors affecting diabetic wound healing

• High blood sugar levels

One major reason diabetic patients do not heal fast is high blood sugar levels. High sugar levels prevent the immune system from functioning properly and inflame the cells, thereby slowing down the healing process. High sugar levels also increase the thickness of the blood, making it even harder for blood to circulate properly. Diabetic patients soon develop peripheral vascular disease, which manifests in the blood vessels becoming narrow, further reducing blood flow to the limbs and slowing the diabetic wound healing process.

• Peripheral neuropathy

A high blood sugar level causes cells around the wound to be inflamed, which eventually become damaged, and you lose sensation even when you sustain an injury. This condition is known as peripheral neuropathy, and it is common in the hands and feet. Without pain sensitivity, you could sustain an injury and not notice it. An unchecked wound is a breeding ground for infection-causing bacteria.

• Weak immune system

Your blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Without proper blood circulation, the injury will not have access to the sufficient white blood cells needed to cover up the wound. There will be no cell regeneration or even an import of white blood cells to help fight off infections, thereby slowing down the diabetic wound healing process.

• Infection

With all other factors at play, you can only expect the wounds to grow larger because of infections. If your immune system is not functioning as it should, your body cannot fight off bacterial infections. Bacteria also thrive on sugar, which increases their growth rate. When wounds continue to spread, it can lead to complications like gangrene or sepsis.

Common complications of diabetic wounds

Poor wound healing can lead to significant complications that affect the physical and mental health of the patient. Here are some of the most common complications:

Amputation

One of the most common complications of diabetic wounds is amputation. Studies show that 25-90% of all amputations within specific groups are attributed to diabetes. When wounds don’t heal, they progress to become gangrene, a major cause of amputation.

Sepsis

People with uncontrolled infections develop sepsis, which spreads into the bloodstream and becomes a life-threatening issue. The infection can also cause osteomyelitis, an inflammation of the bone that manifests in pain, swelling, and flu-like symptoms. This condition can also be linked to deformed feet, where the bones begin to break or dislocate in response to simple movements like walking.

Skin Infections

Diabetic patients also suffer ulcers, mainly on the foot, which result in swelling around the wound, foul-smelling abscess, fever, and chills. As the infection spreads, the chances of amputation increase.

Treatment options for diabetic wounds

Regardless of how bad the situation sounds, there are ways to treat diabetic wounds:

Oxygen therapy

There are two types of oxygen therapy: hyperbaric and topical therapy. With hyperbaric therapy, you inhale 100% oxygen to improve your blood supply and oxygenate the wound. Topical therapy involves applying oxygen directly to the wound.

Skin grafts

This is a simple surgery that involves removing the dead cells and tissue around the wound and replacing it with skin from another part of the body or from a donor to reconstruct the damaged tissues.

Dressings

Dressing diabetic wounds involves different kinds of materials, like seaweed or alginate dressings, which can absorb up to 20 times their weight in fluid. The physician can also use a vacuum to carry out negative-pressure therapy to draw out fluid further and reduce the need for dressings. 

Tips for managing diabetic wounds

To speed up diabetic wound healing, you can employ these tips:

• Find cuts, scrapes, and bruises and treat them immediately. Make sure to disinfect them by rinsing them with warm water, applying pressure to stop the bleeding, applying antibiotic cream, and covering them with a bandage. 
• Make sure to keep an eye out for new wounds. Wearing white socks helps you spot red spots from new bleeding wounds or old ones that aren’t healing.
• Eat food that has less sugar content to control your blood sugar levels. Make sure to consult a dietician to draw up a meal plan that can cater to your unique bodily needs.
• When there are signs of an infection, seek out medical help, especially when it is early. The sooner you deal with an infection, the less likely your chances are to get amputated.

Preventing wounds in diabetics

Preventing wounds as a diabetic patient is better than trying to treat them. You can prevent wounds by:

• Wear protective footwear when exercising or outdoors and clothing that keeps you from sustaining new injuries.
• If you have a smoking habit, it is best to discontinue it immediately. Smoking reduces the oxygen supply to already existing foot ulcers and prevents them from healing.
• Schedule regular check-ups with a medical professional to detect abnormalities in your body.
• Maintain proper hygiene to reduce your risk of having a skin infection that can lead to a more serious problem.

FAQs 

How does diabetes affect wound healing?

Diabetes affects wound healing by reducing blood circulation, which prevents the regeneration of cells around the wound, causing it to heal fast.

How do you treat diabetic wounds?

You can treat diabetic wounds with oxygen therapy, skin grafts, and dressings like alginate dressing.

Do cuts take longer to heal with diabetes?

Yes, cuts can take longer to heal because diabetes constricts the blood vessels, making it difficult for blood to reach the wounds and begin the healing process.

Wrapping Up

Diabetes can be managed with the right help and methods. While it can seem frustrating, make sure to adhere to the tips provided in this article as a guide to better treatment and prevention of wounds. Remember, it is better not to sustain an injury than to look for ways to treat it, especially if you are diabetic. Speak to a healthcare professional if you notice abnormalities in your wounds and seek treatment options.

Sell Extra Diabetic Test Strips For Cash!

Got extra diabetic test strips you don’t need anymore? You can sell them for cash to get the supplies you need! If you recently switched to a new glucose meter, you can sell your old test strips and get them to people who need them the most, while making a little extra money on the side.

We do local pickups if you are in the Tampa Bay area. Just call or text us at (727) 204-0478  and we will send you a quote immediately, pick up the strips and pay you cash upfront!

If you are not in Tampa, we also accept nationwide shipping! You can ship your unused diabetic test strips to us from anywhere in the United States. Visit our Ship Your Strips page to begin the shipping process. Payment takes two business days for shipped test strips and are processed via PayPal, CashApp, Zelle or check.