{"id":2689,"date":"2017-11-27T19:50:46","date_gmt":"2017-11-27T19:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=2689"},"modified":"2019-02-21T08:15:39","modified_gmt":"2019-02-21T14:15:39","slug":"diabetic-foot-ulcers-can-be-prevented","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/diabetic-foot-ulcers-can-be-prevented\/","title":{"rendered":"Prevention, treatment offer hope for diabetic foot ulcers"},"content":{"rendered":"

An estimated 30.3 million people in the U.S. have diabetes<\/a>. The percentage of adults with diabetes increases with age, reaching a high of 25.2 percent among those age 65 or older.<\/p>\n

Diabetes may be accompanied by other coexisting conditions such as blindness, heart disease, kidney failure or lower-limb amputation.<\/p>\n

High blood sugar levels, poor circulation, immune system issues, nerve damage and infection may contribute to a nonhealing diabetic foot ulcer, according to Heather Hawkins, program director of the OSF Wound Care Clinic<\/a> in Bloomington. Approximately 15 percent of people living with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer.<\/p>\n

Advanced treatment options<\/h2>\n
\"Medical

Medical office assistant Brandee Thrasher adjusts the settings on a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for a patient at the OSF Wound Care Clinic.<\/p><\/div>\n

Mark Tate, 59, of Leroy, has been visiting the OSF Wound Care Clinic for much of this year due to chronic non-healing wounds on his feet. His healing process has been compromised due to type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough Mark has not fully healed at this time, healing is in sight for him due to regular visits to the OSF Wound Care Clinic and advanced treatment options, like hyperbaric oxygen and negative pressure wound therapy,\u201d Hawkins said.<\/p>\n

An estimated 14 to 24 percent of diabetes patients with foot ulcers will experience an amputation. Even more alarming, people with an amputation have a 50 percent mortality rate within five years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe OSF Wound Care Clinic has decreased Mark\u2019s number of hospital admissions due to his nonhealing wounds and has greatly diminished the possibility of any future amputation,\u201d Hawkins said.<\/p>\n

Prevention strategies<\/h2>\n

The OSF Wound Care Clinic recommends the following to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers:<\/p>\n