Diabetes mellitus is one disease that can have Complication as its other name. Among the many complications that a diabetic could have, the dreaded would be the foot ulcer, as damage can be severe enough to require amputation.
For diabetics with this dreaded foot ulcer, a boon in disguise would be a new device that delivers a high voltage electric current to the skin. Such an electrical stimulation would help in the healing of foot ulcers.People with diabetes may develop foot ulcers as a result of poor circulation and a reduced ability to fight infection. The conventional way to treat such ulcers would be by cleaning and daily dressing with appropriate aseptic measures, keeping the wound moist and resting the affected limb.
According to the recent study which involved 35 diabetic patients, who received high-voltage, pulsed galvanic electric stimulation every night for 8 hours as well as removal dead tissue weekly, topical treatment and rest for 3 months, it was found that the ulcer healing rate was about 65%.
Though it is not clear, electric stimulation works in enhancing the blood flow to the affected area and hence enhance the immune system. The device should be used in combination with other measures.
According to the study, author Dr. Lawrence A Lavery of the University of Texas Health Sciences, "it is more promising than some pharmaceuticals that I've seen."
Inspite of the fact the study results are quite promising larger trials should be conducted to further investigate whether electric stimulation can help diabetic foot ulcers to heal.
