We often neglect those small wounds and cuts and ignore them completely thinking they can heal on their own without any proper care. But, suffering from minor wounds and cuts would be challenging for diabetic patients.
However, you can treat those small cuts and wounds for diabetic patients with little patience and good knowledge regarding what you should do.
People who has diabetes often take more time for healing wounds and cuts when compared to non diabetes. Diabetes can also increase the chance of infection in minor wounds and cuts and result in creating very serious complication.
Proper care must be taken for healing those wounds and cuts, this article provides you some tips for the people with diabetes for healing faster.
Wound Care Tips For Diabetic Patients
The following are some important tips need to follow for the people with diabetes.
1. Check And Clean The Wound
The first thing you need to do before starting any treatment is to check and clean the wound thoroughly to reduce the risk of infection. Proper cleaning would result in optimal healing.
- Use water to wash the area under moderate pressure and a mild soap to wash the affected area. It will help to remove dirt, debris and bacteria as possible.
- Spread or apply anti septic cream on the area and cover it with a bandage.
- Try to change dressing at least for 2 times in a day.
2. Manage Blood Sugar Levels
It’s quite important to check your blood sugar levels to heal the wounds faster. Because high glucose levels in blood can delay healing process and increase the risk of infection.
And do not forget to take your medicines and insulin on time as directed by your doctor.
3. Follow Healthy Diet
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Following healthy diet is one of the best ways to maintain healthy blood sugar levels that accelerates healing process.
Include foods rich in protein, low in carbohydrates, and low in calories and full in vitamins and proteins in your regular diet. Vitamins like E, C boost your immune system and fight against infections and promote faster healing.
Eat high fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and unsaturated fats. And make sure you eat 5-6 small meals instead of 2-3 large meals to be healthy.
4. Coconut Oil
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Coconut oil is one of the effective natural ingredients to heal wounds faster, especially in diabetic people. This oil is loaded with numerous properties like anti bacterial, antiviral, moisturizing and healing properties.
This oil even helps in preventing swelling and pain associated with wounds and cuts.
- Take little amount of extra virgin coconut oil in your hands and apply it on the wound and cover it with bandage. Leave it for 2-3 hours and then change the bandage, repeat this for 3-4 times in a day for complete healing of wound or cut.
5. Turmeric
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Applying little amount of turmeric is our grandmothers tip used from centuries to heal any type of wound or cut on our bodies. This works perfect even for diabetic patients too.
Generally, turmeric is considered as antiseptic and antibiotic agent that helps to heal minor wounds easily and prevent infections in diabetic people.
According to a study in tropical medicine and surgery reports in 2015 the enzyme called curcumin in turmeric possess anti inflammatory, anti oxidant and anti infective properties which is beneficial in the management of diabetic foot ulcers.
- If it’s a minor cut or wound, you can directly apply little amount of turmeric on it to stop bleeding.
- You can even drink one glass of warm milk by adding a pinch of turmeric in it for promoting healing in diabetic patients. One must drink it before going to bed for few days.
- Alternatively, mix little amount of turmeric powder with enough amount of coconut oil to form a paste and apply it directly on the affected area for few times in a day to promote faster healing.
6. Aloe Vera
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Aloe vera has analgesic, anti inflammatory, anti bacterial and soothing properties and the phytochemicals present in it help to ease the pain, increase moisture content, reduce inflammation and promote healing.
- Take little amount of fresh aloe vera gel extracted from fresh aloe vera leaf and apply it on the affected area.
- Allow it to dry for few minutes and then wash the area with warm water and then pat dry.
- Repeat it several times in a day for complete healing of wound and to reduce the pain caused by it.
7. Honey
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Honey is also used for treating wounds or cuts in diabetic patients. It stimulates tissue regeneration, fibroblast growth and angiogenesis and the anti inflammatory properties help in reducing pain and swelling.
- Fist clean the affected area with running cool water to remove dirt and germs.
- Apply little amount of honey on the affected area and cover it with a bandage.
- Change the bandage 3-4 times in a day for faster healing.
Additional Tips
- Make sure to never walk barefoot even inside your home too.
- Don’t wear the clothes that rub affected area and result in worsening it.
- You can try applying cold compress on the affected area to reduce swelling and pain.
- Limit excessive consumption of alcohol and quit smoking.
- Eat foods rich in protein to speed up the recovery time.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and to keep skin moisturized.
- Choose your shoes carefully that fit both feet and doesn’t cause blisters or sores.
Note
- If the wound doesn’t start to heal in a day or two then immediately consult your doctor.
- If the above mentioned remedies give you further irritation then stop using it and consult your doctor immediately.