Collagen used as wound management solution can speed up healing of diabetic ulcers

Dubai, UAE: Along with high prevalence of diabetes in countries such as KSA, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Egypt also exists a prevalence of diabetic complications such as diabetic foot ulcers. Wound care in diabetes is of utmost importance due to the fact that complications could lead to decrease in the patient’s quality of life, amputations and in some instances death. Patient safety Middle East hosts industry forums highlighting the latest technologies and advances in using collagen as a wound management solution.

Patient Safety Middle East is held at the Dubai International Exhibition & Convention Centre and continues on the 5 & 6 of October 2015. More than a 1000 regional and international delegates convened to discuss the latest updates in healthcare associated infections, patient safety, wound care, decontamination and sterilisation, and hospital IT solutions over the next three days.

Dr Larry presented a session titled ‘Diabetes, Wound Care & Collagen’ at Patient Safety Middle East Exhibition & Conferences. The exhibition featured the Patient Safety industry forum that hosted the lectures on the latest technologies in the field of patient safety, wound care, infection control, decontamination and sterilisation.

“Healing wounds fast in diabetics helps restore the patient’s quality of life and also prevents them from limb amputation. Uncontrolled diabetes over a period of time may have deleterious effects on major organ systems in the body such as the heart, eyes, nerves, kidneys and the integumentary system just to name a few,” says Dr Larry G. Baratta, Medical Director, Southwest Technologies, Inc, USA.

Collagen as a wound dressing has been in the market for a long time, and it is recognized as an essential component in wound healing and has an excellent record of performance for healing wounds. According to a study 58% of collagen-treated wounds completely healed and the wound healing rate ranged from 30–84 days.  A diabetic foot ulcer occurs in approximately 15% of diabetics. Of these patients approximately 6% will be hospitalized due to infection or other ulcer-related complication.

Diabetic foot ulcers most frequently occur on the patient’s foot at the bottom of the big toe or on the ball of the foot. Ulcers may also be found on the sides of the foot as a result of ill-fitting shoes. Even though some ulcers may not be painful, every ulcer should be checked out by a doctor as soon as it is found. Neglecting ulcers may result in infections, which in turn can lead to amputations.