Why Won’t My Foot Wound Heal?
There are multiple causes of slow wound healing, including vascular or arterial diseases, low human growth hormone levels, and zinc deficiency. But by far the most common cause of slow wound healing is diabetes, both type 1 and type 2.
When a diabetic has a foot wound, the wound can remain open for months. Having unhealed wounds for this long significantly increases your risk for infections, gangrene, and amputations.
Our specialists at Caring Podiatry in Monroe Township and Neptune, New Jersey, help diabetics manage their foot wounds. Read on to find out why your healing system is slower than normal and what you can do to avoid complications.
Why foot wounds fail to heal
Diabetics heal more slowly because high blood sugar levels damage the circulatory system. If you have poor circulation, the much-needed nutrients carried by your blood take longer to get to the injury site.
With type 2 diabetes, there are no clear symptoms during the first stages of the disease process. So, if you’re an overall healthy person but have slow healing wounds, you may have undiagnosed diabetes. A check-up with an endocrinologist can help you determine whether your blood sugar levels are to blame for your slow healing.
Why do I need to take care of wounds immediately?
Even a small delay in getting wound care could lead to severe consequences like infection and ulceration, which could possibly lead to amputation. A small wound on your ankle or foot might not seem like a big deal right now, but when you don’t have the ability to heal efficiently it can very quickly grow advanced enough to threaten your foot and ankle health, as well as your whole-body wellness.
What are the different wound care options?
Caring Podiatry offers a full range of wound care options. We always tailor your care to the specific situation, and then design a treatment plan after carefully evaluating your medical history, current situation, and your personal needs.
Your treatment may include wound cleaning, topical medication like ointments, and bandaging. You may need specialized footwear, like diabetic shoes, or custom-made orthotics to protect and take the pressure off your wound to improve healing. You may need the necrotic (dead) tissue around the wound removed to help in the healing process.. At Caring Podiatry we do what it takes to get your wound to heal.
Artacent, a dual-layer amniotic skin graft to heal wounds faster is now offered at Caring Podiatry. This treatment is a safe and effective way to get a large influx of growth factors directly into wounds like pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and burns. This stimulates rapid healing, allowing you to grow your own new tissue. Amniotic tissue grafts have been reported in literature to improve surgical outcomes by reducing fibrosis, preventing adhesions and providing native growth factors. The grafts create an ideal environment conducive to the regeneration of healthy tissue.¹
To get safe, effective, and fast wound healing from the leading Neptune and Monroe Township foot doctors, call either location of Caring Podiatry, or use the online appointment maker now.
