Minor injuries, such as light kitchen knife cuts, shoe calluses, or small scratches while walking, usually heal in healthy people within a few days. However, in diabetic patients whose blood sugar remains elevated, such a minor wound can persist for a long time.
Doctors emphasize that it is extremely important for diabetic patients with high blood sugar to regularly examine their feet. The reason is that wound healing requires optimal levels of oxygen and blood, as well as a strong immune system. High blood sugar negatively affects these processes, slowing down the regeneration process.
Professor Dr. Subhash Giri from the Department of Medicine at RML Hospital in Delhi explained that high blood sugar also affects the immune system of diabetic patients. In people with high glucose levels, the ability to fight any infection can be impaired, which is one of the reasons for slow wound healing.
Dr. Subhash also noted that daily foot examination is critically important for people with diabetes. Prolonged high blood sugar can damage nerves in the feet. As a result, a person may notice a small injury, callus, or irritation from shoes too late. Therefore, foot examination is necessary, especially of the soles and spaces between the toes. If redness, swelling, or calluses are found, these signs should not be ignored, and a doctor should be consulted. It is strictly forbidden to apply any creams, powders, or folk remedies independently when a wound appears.