It’s inevitable all people are likely to experience wounds and cuts at some stage in our life. For a non-diabetic, this is only a part of life. But for a diabetic, it can easily become something far more serious. For individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, a wound may even escalate into a life-or-death circumstance. That’s why it’s imperative for folks that have been diagnosed with diabetes to understand how their condition affects wounds.

Diabetic Wound

A diabetic wound is a lot slower to heal due to the effect shaky and high blood glucose has on the immune system. Since the body of a diabetic is much less effective at protecting itself in the first place, in addition, it means once an injury like a wound occurs, it’s also far less effective at healing it.

Why are these repair capacities so constrained in diabetics?

  • The immune system was compromised. Diabetics are more vulnerable to wounds due to a weakened immune system. This implies minor cuts and wounds which would typically heal under ordinary conditions, will not have a no healthy functioning immune system to help them do so.
  • The blood vessels that supply blood and much-needed oxygen into the wound have become damaged by high levels of blood glucose. With these delivery systems disrupted, it means the diabetic’s body can’t send the nutrients which are expected to help heal the wound.
  • Nerves located in the affected areas which would normally indicate the mind a wound is present along with the body’s defenses are compromised, have lost their ability to effectively communicate. Nerves, that are now damaged as a result of Type 2 diabetes, are not able to sufficiently warn the body of this injury. Because of this, the injury goes undetected and is, therefore, allowed to get worse.

Conclusion

How serious can this situation become? According to statistics, nearly half of all amputations which happen in the U.S.. Among the most common situations is when a wound isn’t correctly identified and handled in a timely fashion, it evolves to the stage the area becomes dead and must be removed through amputation so as to conserve the diabetic’s life. But the bad news does not stop there. Statistics show that there’s a high rate of mortality after lower limb amputation. The best way to defend your body and maintain a healthy immune system, is to keep your blood glucose in check. The more they are mismanaged, the more consequent harm a wound will create.