Diabetes & Foot Ulcers: Today there are an estimated 3000 non-traumatic amputations that occur in Australia with over half of these from people with diabetes.  This number in America is approximately 900,000 new patients are afflicted with non-healing skin ulcers each year. Diabetic lesions are responsible for more hospitalizations than any other complication of diabetes and lead to more than 80,000 amputations each year

The ironic fact is the number of amputations is increasing annually despite the fact that wonderful surgery that can bring more blood into feet the increase in amputations continues to rise It is known with good medical care and your observation can prevent amputation.

“$4.6-million grant by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to support the first human clinical trial of Stratatech’s ExpressGraft(TM) antimicrobial skin substitute. The clinical trial will assess the safety and efficacy of the tissue as a treatment for chronic diabetic foot ulcers. This pioneering product is the first therapeutic skin substitute to be genetically enhanced to fight infection and accelerate wound healing.

ExpressGraft(TM) skin substitute is a living, cell-based tissue with the physical, chemical and histological characteristics of human skin. When applied topically to non-healing ulcers, this tissue provides immediate wound closure and is expected to be gradually replaced by the patient’s own cells during the wound healing process. The tissue’s unique ability to produce a potent immune system protein enables it to actively fight infections that routinely develop at the site of diabetic foot ulcers.”  Source Market Watch.com

Although this new trial is exciting and will be welcomed by many diabetics who are currently being treated for ulcers, I can’t help but think how did the ulcers form in the first place?

There is so much information today informing about how to avoid foot ulcers and how  the skin can be damaged  by even the littlest amount of pressure that is constantly applied to the foot.  Are we not observing simple daily foot care when we are toweling ourselves after showering?  Is there enough education readily available especially for the elderly?