Diabetes occurs when the human pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin, or even if it can produce enough, the body fails to utilize insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that allows our body to turn glucose, or sugar, into energy. If our body struggles to metabolize glucose, it can lead to high blood sugar levels.
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Long-standing diabetes is often responsible for many complications like heart disease and kidney disease. Unmanaged diabetes also accelerates the chances of severe infections.
Irrespective of the duration of diabetes, though, it is commonly observed that wounds take longer to heal if a person has diabetes. Medical research has documented a clear cause-effect relationship between diabetes and slow wound healing.
Here's why this happens
- Due to less production of insulin or resistance to its action (insulin-resistance), high blood sugar levels impair the functioning of white blood cells. White blood cells play an active role in our immune system (the body’s defence system). Due to disruption in the functioning of white blood cells, the body is less able to fight bacteria and other pathogenic microbes and recovery from wound infection becomes more difficult.
- The formation of new blood vessels or repair of existing vessels also gets disturbed in diabetes, leading to poor blood circulation. This adversely affects the delivery of nutrients necessary for wound healing. So, the injuries take longer to heal or sometimes injuries may not heal at all. Poor circulation is often associated with nerve degeneration, creating numbness in the limbs and increase in chances of infection.
- Injuries of the feet are particularly ominous and even a small wound on the feet including the soles or the toes of the feet may quickly develop into a diabetic foot ulcer. A foot ulcer worsens if left untreated. Around one-fifth of diabetic patients tend to develop an ulcer that eventually needs lower limb amputation. For this reason, people with diabetes should be extra-careful with any cuts, scratches or burns in their skin, particularly of the feet. Regular self-inspection of the feet and closely monitoring any wounds can reduce the risk of further infections.
Takeaway
Infections, if ignored, may spread and lead to gangrene or sepsis. For effective wound healing, it is also very important to achieve good control over blood sugar levels through proper diet for diabetes patients, recommended physical activity in diabetes, and medication including insulin.
(Read More - What is prediabetes)
Doctors for How does diabetes affect wound healing?

Dr. Pratyush kumar
Diabetology
10 Years of Experience

Dr. J.N Naidu
Diabetology
51 Years of Experience

Dr.Jainaa Khedawala
Diabetology
2 Years of Experience
