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Baylor Health Care System > Physicians & Locations > Dallas > Specialties & Services > Wound Care Services > Diabetes and Diabetic Neuropathy Hard-to-Heal Wounds

Diabetes and Diabetic Neuropathy Hard-to-Heal Wounds  

When can diabetes affect the body’s ability to heal injuries?

Over time, high blood sugar causes blood vessels to narrow and harden, reducing blood flow that is essential to the healing process. Poor circulation also damages peripheral nerves, causing a condition known as diabetic neuropathy or the loss of sensation in the arms and legs.

The loss of feeling -- including the ability to feel pain--means a small cut on the leg or a blister on the foot can go unnoticed and untreated until it has become infected.

The combination of poor blood flow and diabetic neuropathy complicates wound recovery. An injury that doesn’t heal within a month should be evaluated for special therapy.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT)

Oxygen has long been known for its healing qualities. HBOT therapy saturates the body’s tissues and blood with a higher than normal level of oxygen. This stimulates the production of white blood cells to kill infection and promotes blood vessel growth to improve circulation. Studies have shown that diabetes related hard-to-heal wounds treated by HBOT have a strong success rate for health over the long term.

Diabetes and Diabetic Neuropathy Hard-to-Heal Wounds

How Does diabetes affect the body’s ability to heal injuries?

Over time, high blood sugar causes blood vessels to narrow and harden, reducing blood flow that is essential to the healing process. Poor circulation also damages peripheral nerves, causing a condition known as diabetic neuropathy or the loss of sensation in the arms and legs. The loss of feeling-- including the ability to feel pain--means a small cut on the leg or a blister on the foot can go unnoticed and untreated until it has become infected. The combination of poor blood flow and diabetic neuropathy complicates wound recovery. An injury that doesn’t heal within a month should be evaluated for special therapy.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) Oxygen has long been known for its healing qualities. HBOT therapy saturates the body’s tissues and blood with a higher than normal level of oxygen. This stimulates the production of white blood cells to kill infection and promotes blood vessel growth to improve circulation. Studies have shown that diabetes related hard-to-heal wounds treated by HBOT have a strong success rate for health over the long term. Wound care specialists at Baylor Dallas are credentialed in HBOT therapy to create a specific plan of frequency and duration based on each patient’s injury and his or her body’s response to treatment.