Current scenario of traditional medicines in management of diabetic foot ulcers:A review

Diabetic foot infections and diabetic foot ulcers(DFU)cause significant suffering and are often recurring.DFU have three important pathogenic factors,namely,microangiopathy causing local tissue anoxia,neuropathy making the foot prone to injuries from trivial trauma,and local tissue hyperglycaemia favouring infection and delaying the wound healing.DFU have been the leading cause for non-traumatic amputations of part or whole of the limb.Western medicines focus mainly on euglycaemia,antimicrobials,debridement and wound cover with grafts,and off-loading techniques.Advances in euglycaemic control,foot care and footwear,systemic antimicrobial therapy,and overall health care access and delivery,have resulted in an overall decrease in amputations.However,the process of wound care after adequate debridement remains a major cost burden globally,especially in developing nations.This process revolves around two basic concerns regarding control/eradication of local infection and promotion of faster healing in a chronic DFU without recurrence.Wound modulation with various dressings and techniques are often a costly affair.Some aspects of the topical therapy with modern/Western medicines are frequently not addressed.Cost of and compliance to these therapies are important as both the wounds and their treatment are“chronic.”Naturally occurring agents/medications from traditional medicine systems have been used frequently in different cultures and nations,though without adequate clinical base/relevance.Traditional Chinese medicine involves restoring yin-yang balance,regulating the‘chi’,and promoting local blood circulation.Traditional medicines from India have been emphasizing on‘naturally’available products to control wound infection and promote all the aspects of wound healing.There is one more group of chemicals which are not pharmaceutical agents but can create acidic milieu in the wound to satisfy the above-mentioned basic concerns.Various natural and plant derived products(e.g.,honey,aloe vera,oils,and calendula)and maggots are also used for wound healing purposes.We believe that patients with a chronic wound are so tired physically,emotionally,and financially that they usually accept native traditional medicine which has the same cultural base,belief,and faith.Many of these products have never been tested in accordance to“evidence-based medicine.”There are usually case reports and experience-based reports about these products.Recently,there have been some trials(in vitro and in vivo)to verify the claims of usage of traditional medicines in management of DFU.Such studies show that these natural products enhance the healing process by controlling infection,stimulating granulation tissue,antimicrobial action,promoting fibroblastic activity and collagen deposition,etc.In this review,we attempt to study and analyse the available literature on results of topical traditional medicines,which are usually advocated in the management of DFU.An integrated and‘holistic’approach of both modern and traditional medicine may be more acceptable to the patient,cost effective,and easy to administer and monitor.This may also nevertheless lead to further improvement in quality of life and decrease in the rates of amputations for DFU.

What’s old is new again:Insights into diabetic foot microbiome

Diabetes is a chronic disease that is considered one of the most stubborn global health problems that continues to defy the efforts of scientists and physicians.The prevalence of diabetes in the global population continues to grow to alarming levels year after year,causing an increase in the incidence of diabetes complications and health care costs all over the world.One major complication of diabetes is the high susceptibility to infections especially in the lower limbs due to the immunocompromised state of diabetic patients,which is considered a definitive factor in all cases.Diabetic foot infections continue to be one of the most common infections in diabetic patients that are associated with a high risk of serious complications such as bone infection,limb amputations,and life-threatening systemic infections.In this review,we discussed the circumstances associated with the high risk of infection in diabetic patients as well as some of the most commonly isolated pathogens from diabetic foot infections and the related virulence behavior.In addition,we shed light on the different treatment strategies that aim at eradicating the infection.

Management of diabetic foot ulcers and the challenging points:An endocrine view

Diabetic foot ulcers(DFU)are one of the most challenging complications of diabetes.Up to one-third of patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)may suffer from DFUs during their life.DFU is one of the leading causes of morbidity in patients with DM.The treatment period is challenging,and the recurrence rate of DFUs is high.Hence,establishing prevention strategies is the most important point to be emphasized.A multidisciplinary approach is necessary in the prevention and treatment of DFUs.Patients at risk should be identified,and prevention measures should be taken based on the risk category.Once a DFU is formed,the appropriate classification and evidence-based treatment interventions should be executed.Glycemic control,diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease,local wound care,diagnosis,and treatment of infection should be addressed along with the proper evaluation and management of general health status.

Guidelines on multidisciplinary approaches for the prevention and management of diabetic foot disease(2020 edition)

In recent years,as living standards have continued to improve,the number of diabetes patients in China,along with the incidence of complications associated with the disease,has been increasing.Among these complications,diabetic foot disease is one of the main causes of disability and death in diabetic patients.Due to the differences in economy,culture,religion and level of medical care available across different regions,preventive and treatment methods and curative results for diabetic foot vary greatly.In multidisciplinary models built around diabetic foot,the timely assessment and diagnosis of wounds and appropriate methods of prevention and treatment with internal and external surgery are key to clinical practice for this pathology.In 2019,under the leadership of the Jiangsu Medical Association and Chinese Diabetes Society,the writing group for the Guidelines on multidisciplinary approaches for the prevention and management of diabetic foot disease(2020 edition)was established with the participation of scholars from the specialist areas of endocrinology,burn injury,vascular surgery,orthopedics,foot and ankle surgery and cardiology.Drawing lessons from diabetic foot guidelines from other countries,this guide analyses clinical practices for diabetic foot,queries the theoretical basis and grades and gives recommendations based on the characteristics of the pathology in China.This paper begins with assessments and diagnoses of diabetic foot,then describes treatments for diabetic foot in detail,and ends with protections for high-risk feet and the prevention of ulcers.This manuscript covers the disciplines of internal medicine,surgical,nursing and rehabilitation and describes a total of 50 recommendations that we hope will provide procedures and protocols for clinicians dealing with diabetic foot.