Can hyperbaric oxygen therapy help with diabetic foot wounds?
How HBOT can help diabetic patients with their wound healing
Diabetes affects the rate in which the body heals wounds. People with diabetes have difficulty metabolizing glucose, causing high blood sugar levels that affect the body’s ability to respond to wounds and heal itself.
For non-diabetic people, a small cut or abrasion will often heal with no complications. But for people with diabetes, a small cut on the foot can lead to sores and ulcers that are slow to heal and, as a result, are more likely to develop infections and complications.
These complications can unfortunately sometimes lead to limb amputation. According to Point: Hyperbaric Oxygen Is Beneficial for Diabetic Foot Wounds, “Diabetic foot ulcers occur in 1.9% of adults with diabetes annually, resulting in amputation in 15%–20% of patients within 5 years.”
How does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy work?
Oxygen is vital in repairing tissue and restoring normal body function. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a treatment that helps patients increase their body’s oxygen level to better manage and treat medical conditions like diabetes. Treatment involves patients simply entering a special pressurized chamber to breathe in pure oxygen.
How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can help with diabetic foot wounds
There are many reasons why the use of HBOT is growing at a rapid rate, especially in treating diabetic wounds.
- It’s an established treatment
HBOT has proven to be an effective treatment for diabetic patients in many medical studies. According to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Diabetic Foot Wounds, HBOT has been used to treat diabetic foot wounds for over 20 years.
- HBOT has a history of success
A study conducted in 2005–2006 analyzed and treated a total of 45 cases of diabetic foot wounds with HBOT and found a 71% success rate.[1] The same study notes that their findings are in consensus with other studies of HBOT on diabetic foot wounds, which saw success rates ranging from 70% to 95%.
- It’s often covered by insurance
Not only does HBOT help most diabetic patients avoid limb amputation—which is associated with major hospital costs—but it’s also often covered by most major insurance companies, including Medicare. Click here to learn how your insurance can cover HBOT.
Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy help with my diabetic foot wound?
Ideal candidates for HBOT will have a wound that is a Grade 3 on the Warner Grading System, a non-healing wound for over 30 days, and be either a Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes patient.
At Hyperbaric Healing Treatment Center, we work with patients to determine the best treatment plan for their needs. Our qualified team is happy to give you a tour of our facility and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Contact us today to learn more about HBOT can help you.
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