Diabetes is a disease that has increased dramatically in recent decades, constituting one of the major health problems worldwide. Tanto es así que según la Organización Mundial de la Salud, alrededor de 420 millones de personas en el mundo tienen diabetes. In Spain, about 1,000 people are diagnosed every day,which is about 400,000 a year, according to data provided by the scientific director of the Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (Ciberdem), Eduard Montanya.
One of the main consequences we encounter with this disease is the so-called Diabetic Foot.
Diabetic foot is defined as any infection, ulcer or destruction of the tissues of the foot associated with diabetes.
Consenso Internacional del Pie Diabético del Grupo Internacional de Trabajo sobre el Pie Diabético
Treating Diabetic Foot with Hyperbaric Chamber
Oxygen therapy constitutes one of the most effective non-invasive methods of treating the diabetic footbecause accelerates wound healing after debridement, in addition reduce the likelihood of major limb amputation in patients with infected diabetic foot by performing this therapy in a in conjunction with the conventional treatment indicated by your doctor.
Gracias a un estudio, “Uso de oxigeno hiperbárico para tratar las úlceras del pie diabético” de 2002, se demostró que la tasa media de recuperación de las úlceras del pie diabético tratadas en cámara hiperbárica es de 89 por ciento, en comparación con 61 por ciento cuando solo se emplean tratamientos convencionales.
Effects of Oxygen Therapy to Treat Diabetic Foot
The effects that hyperbaric medicine has on the treatment of the diabetic foot are
- It promotes collagen synthesis to generate new tissue in the wound.
- Itimproves blood sugar levels by stimulating pancreas function and decreasing insulin resistance.
- It reduces edemaby increasing blood flow to the affected site.
- It accelerates the recovery processes because it increases the amount of dissolved oxygen in the tissues.
When a patient is admitted with a diabetic foot condition and treatment with hyperbaric oxygenation is indicated in the short term, there is an improvement in the response to infections, the color of the foot changes, daily and sports activities that were suspended are resumed and a faster healing of the wounds is achieved. Some patients even begin to experience pain in their toes, a sensation they had lost since experiencing the injury.
President of theArgentine Association of Hyperbaric Medicine and Research (AAMHEI)
Hyperbaric Clinic of Estepona
At the Hyperbaric Clinic of Estepona, our doctor evaluates each patient’s case to determine if oxygen therapy can help. Ask now for your first medical consultation without obligation.