Regardless of the type, diabetes is a frustrating and inconvenient disease to live with. But the complications can be extremely detrimental, and some are even fatal. Some of these symptoms are kidney and heart disease, nerve disease, blindness, impotence, and diabetic neuropathy. Under the worst conditions, some patients even have lower limbs amputated. While the effects of oxygen therapy and hyperbaric chambers for diabetic patients may not be preventative for diabetes itself, it can reduce the likelihood of the complications.

Internal wounds to the organs are most helped by hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). HBOT replenishes the oxygen supply in the blood, so that the blood and plasma can carry more blood to the muscles and organs. Oxygen can heal almost any kind of wound by building up healthy new tissue at the wound site, and the pressurized oxygen inters the body to do just that. Some “topical” hyperbaric chambers are so small that they are meant to concentrate the pressurized oxygen on only one limb; others are traditional and meant for the patient to climb in, but are portable and can be used in the patient’s own home; others can only be used at a hospital, and some of these can accommodate up to four people at a time.

With increased oxygen levels, blood vessels function better as well. This, along with faster-healing tissue, is beneficial for a diabetic patient because some people are at risk for irradiated tissue and skin graft or flap compromise. Hyperbaric chambers also enable diabetics to be much less subject to infection of the tissue or wounds, which in turn makes any further complications much less likely. Infections can occur from street drugs or surgery, and people with diabetes are more susceptible because of weakened antibodies.

Results from tests on the reaction of diabetic patients with foot ulcers to hyperbaric chambers were very positive; the therapy was given for two weeks, and during that time the rate of healing was significantly improved. Hyperbaric chambers may also help diabetics with hypoglycemia, a common side effect that occurs when there is not enough glucose in the blood. Because the blood cannot deliver enough glucose to the brain, hypoglycemia can result in temporary unconsciousness or seizures. If these persist, a patient could suffer brain damage.

But hyperbaric chambers have been found to help people with autism and cerebral palsy, so why not those who have lasting brain damage from hypoglycemia? Most sources also say that HBOT can regulate blood flow in the cerebrum, which is weakened in patients with diabetes.

If left untreated for too long, diabetes and its connected complications can worsen and even be linked to subsequent stroke. However, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been able to prevent stroke and even significantly help people recovering from stroke. Though anyone interested in using a hyperbaric chamber for diabetes and any other ailment is encouraged to consult a doctor first, most hard studies have shown that the therapy is helpful in any stage of a disease.

I am a health care professional working in the diabetes education field. Foot care is one area that I spend a significant amount of time on when I talk to my clients with diabetes. Sometime this advice comes too late and I have seen far too many people in my practice develop diabetic foot ulcers.

Foot ulcers occur in approximately 15% of people living with diabetes. Diabetic foot ulcer related amputations account for 50 - 60% of all non-traumatic lower-limb amputation. This article is one of a series of articles educating people living with diabetes.

So you are a diabetic and you have developed a foot ulcer. What is going to happen? What will your health care professional do to help you?

The goal of treatment is to prevent worsening of the ulcer and eliminate the potential for amputation. The plan is usually to treat the ulcer in its early stages, allow prompt healing of the ulcer and to prevent it from recurring in the future once it has healed. This is why it is so important to inform your health care provider right away if you notice any wound on your foot.

Upon initial examination, your health care professional will be determining the cause of your ulcer. Is it neuropathic, ischemic or a combination? Based on his or her assessment, the treatment plan to tackle the ulcer will be determined. Oftentimes, your physician will suggest having appropriate shoe modifications made to take the weight away from the area that has the ulcer. Some devices that are often used to keep pressure off the ulcer include total contact casts, removable cast walkers, or “half shoes. If your ulcer is draining it may have a dressing on to absorb the drainage.

It is important to keep the wound edges of your ulcer dry. If the edges remain moist over an extended period of time, it can cause further ulceration of the skin around the edges. Your ulcer will become larger. You may be placed on antibiotics if the wound is infected. The dressing change schedule is varied depending on the type of ulcer, the amount of drainage and the type of dressing being used.

If you develop a foot ulcer, it will be more important than ever to make sure your blood sugar levels remain in an acceptable range. Diabetics whose blood sugar levels remain high have a tendency to have foot ulcers that heal very slowly.

It is frightening to any person with diabetes when they develop a foot ulcer. They have heard of stories of other people who have ended up with amputations when the ulcer became badly infected. If you are worried, ask your health care provider about what you can do to help in healing your ulcer. If you need to, ask your health care provider about support systems out in the community that will help you to handle the fear if you are finding it hard to cope.

I hope that this article has been informative and has provided you with the information you were looking for. If you want more information, please call your health care provider.