Dealing with diabetic foot ulcers is something no one wants to worry about. Thankfully, a promising treatment called hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has shown significant potential for treating these stubborn wounds. If you’re exploring your treatment options for diabetic foot ulcers, consider five ways hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be a game-changer for your health.
1. Accelerated Healing Process
One primary benefit of HBOT is its ability to speed up the healing process of. For wounds, no matter where they are or how long the patient has had them. This therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which significantly increases oxygen levels in your blood and tissues. This heightened oxygen supply enhances the body’s natural healing abilities.
Patients with slow-healing wounds may sit in a hyperbaric chamber for up to two hours at a time. Studies have shown that when combined with comprehensive wound care, regular HBOT treatment promotes faster healing in about 74% of diabetic foot ulcer cases. Complete healing can occur in patients after 20 to 60 sessions.
2. Increased Oxygen Delivery to the Wound Site
Peripheral neuropathy and poor circulation are primary risk factors for diabetic ulcers. Neuropathy causes numbness, resulting in cuts and scrapes that go unnoticed. Then, poor circulation reduces the oxygen supply at the wound site, preventing it from healing.
HBOT counteracts these effects by increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery to these hypoxic (low oxygen) wound tissues. This increased oxygenation delivers much-needed nutrients to the wound, allowing it to finally heal.
3. Improved Tissue Regeneration
HBOT also enhances tissue regeneration. The therapy has been shown to promote fibroblast activity, collagen synthesis, growth factor migration, and angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels). These processes are essential for tissue repair and regeneration, making HBOT a valuable tool in treating diabetic foot ulcers.
4. Reduction in Infection Risk
Infection is a common and serious complication of diabetic foot ulcers. HBOT kills anarobicc bacteria and infection and boosts the immune system by delivering more oxygen to your white blood cells, helping them fight off infection and grow healthy tissue.
5. Prevention of Amputation
Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations in the US. 20 % of diabetics are at risk. A slow-healing ulcer may start out as superficial, but without treatment, it may deepen and spread until infection and gangrene set in, necessitating amputation.
HBOT significantly lowers the chances of major amputations in diabetic foot ulcer patients by improving healing and reducing the risk of infection. In this way, HBOT is a crucial factor for saving limbs and maintaining quality of life for diabetics.
Contact Baromedical Associates, LLC
If you’re looking for a hyperbaric oxygen therapy provider in the Dallas Metro area, consider Baromedical Associates, LLC. As an industry expert, we proudly provide the most advanced and effective HBOT therapy available. Our patients undergo treatment in the world’s largest FDA-approved single-person hyperbaric chambers, ensuring comfort and safety. Our commitment to excellence is also reflected in our experience treating children and international patients with complex medical needs. If you’re considering HBOT for diabetic foot ulcers, contact us today or find a location near you to receive state-of-the-art care in a luxurious and private setting.