Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Saving Limbs and Lives

Approximately 25% of people with diabetes will develop foot ulcers in their lifetime. 130,000 people with diabetes will undergo an amputation. However, as many as 85% of potential amputations can be avoided when advanced modalities, such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, or HBOT, are added to a treatment plan. This is what Hyperbaric Aware has to say.

How HBOT Works as a Treatment for Diabetic Foot Ulcers & Hypoxemia

As the lungs take in large amounts of pressurized oxygen, the patient’s blood becomes more highly oxygenated. As the oxygen-rich blood circulates it carries more oxygen to the areas of concern, such as surgical sites or infected areas like diabetic foot ulcers. The treatments stimulate the release of substances known as growth factors and stem cells, which in turn promote the growth of new blood vessels and help foster healing.

What Are the Specific Benefits to Foot Ulcer Patients?

When Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy solutions are provided to patients with diabetic foot ulcers it is proven to improve patient’s quality of life, reduce infections and tissue necrosis and also lower amputation rates, as many amputations caused by foot ulcers are preventable. HBOT is a proven therapy that continues to show great promise. HBOT can be utilized as a critical component in a comprehensive treatment plan to reduce, and even reverse, some of the negative effects of hypoxemia in diabetic foot ulcer patients. HBOT can significantly reduce the risk of amputation as well. Thousands of hospitals and healthcare practices are still not equipped to provide limb-saving treatments, so many patients with diabetes are not aware that these treatment options exist.