The belief about “slow-healing wounds” and diabetes is frightening for diabetic patients because when a wound occurs anywhere on the body, it heals much more slowly. It may become infected and spread more easily than usual or bacteria may enter the bloodstream causing sepsis. But what if you have another disease along with diabetes and need surgery? Will the wound heal slowly and be prone to infection?
Don’t worry yet… understand first why wounds heal slowly in diabetes
Caused by vascular abnormalities
When you have diabetes, undigested sugar and fat attach to blood vessels causing them to narrow and harden until they become blocked. This can cause wounds to develop on their own, especially foot wounds due to lack of blood supply to the foot tissues. Or if wounds occur anywhere on the body, they heal slowly because the blood vessels are narrowed, there is no blood supply to nourish the wound, or the blood supply is insufficient, so the wound cannot heal itself.
Infection is also present
Diabetic patients often have low immunity if they do not take good care of themselves, do not control their blood sugar levels, or have had diabetes for a long time, increasing the risk of infection. This is a common symptom caused by bacteria, leading to inflammation and further spreading of the wound.
What if we have other diseases along with diabetes that require surgery?
If you have diabetes and other diseases such as herniated disc compressing nerves, coronary artery disease, osteoarthritis, etc., and may need surgery… what should you do? The fear of “slow-healing wounds with diabetes” may frighten you… but
we want to assure you that diabetic patients can undergo surgery just like normal patients. Doctors and patients must be cautious about diabetes complications because surgery changes the body’s balance. Hormones that control blood sugar levels will also change. Surgical wounds have a higher chance of healing slowly and becoming infected. Therefore, before surgery, diabetic patients must be evaluated by a doctor for their diabetes condition. If the patient already manages blood sugar levels well, surgery can proceed normally. But if the patient does not control blood sugar well, the doctor will administer insulin before surgery to control blood sugar levels, preventing complications after surgery and allowing the wound to heal within a normal timeframe.
However, if emergency surgery is required… the doctor will diagnose acute complications first and administer insulin to stabilize blood sugar levels before surgery.
