Tips for Preventing and Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Caring for your feet is important to preventing foot ulcers.
A 2007 study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that 15 percent of all diabetic patients eventually develop foot ulcers. With the number of diabetics expected to increase to over 360 million by 2030 (per a report in Data Points), there could be a significant uptick in foot ulcer cases. Though these are seemingly innocuous injuries, ulcers can lead to amputation or death if left untreated, according to Everyday Health.
Unique Products Used to Treat Leg Ulcers
Doctor-prescribed advanced wound care dressings are vital to the healing of chronic leg ulcers.
For patients coping with vein disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and other diseases that compromise the circulatory system, leg ulcers represent a potentially serious risk that could lead to health complications. According to American Family Physician, venous ulcers are the most common type of lower extremity ulcerations and affect 1% of adults living in the U.S. Venous ulcers are often chronic wounds, known for recurring and persisting for weeks or even years without proper treatment. The best place to start the wound healing process for chronic leg ulcers is with a doctor’s prescription for advanced wound care products.
Essential Podiatry Supplies
Your podiatry supplies should include multiple dressings prescribed by your doctor.
Foot and lower leg wounds require specialized wound care, particularly in patients who are at high risk for complications. People with diabetes, peripheral artery disease, or anyone susceptible to blood clotting need different types of podiatry supplies to treat lower extremity wounds. From moisture control bandages to compression stockings, using the right podiatry supplies is essential for wound care treatment success.
Effective Ways to Prevent Pressure Ulcers
Frequent movement is just one way to prevent pressure ulcers.
They are often seen as little more than an annoyance, but for many non-medical personnel, bedsores – or as they’re known technically, pressure ulcers – are a huge issue in the wound care community. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, bedsores cost between $9.1 and $11.6 billion in the U.S. each year. Not only that, but these painful sores contribute to thousands of patient deaths every year, per figures from Harvard Medical School. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent these painful wounds, and doing so can save patients a lot of time, money and physical pain.
Recent Innovations in Wound Care Technology
New innovations in dressing technology could have a huge impact on the greater wound care industry.
As the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out, the current wound care industry, especially as it pertains to chronic injuries, is massive and continues to grow by leaps and bounds each year. In America alone, there are some 6.5 million patients, with annual costs well over the $25-billion mark. As a result of that sizable audience, researchers everywhere are perpetually in search of new and exciting breakthroughs in wound healing technology. From new dressing treatments to bandages, here are just a few recent options that could help reshape the industry for years to come.