Effect of Topical Insulin on Diabetic Wound Healing among Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcer is a debilitative disease with severe consequences in diabetic patients. Wound healing is a complex biological process that restores skin integrity. Conventional dressings were found ineffective for these ulcers. Insulin accelerates wound healing in diabetes by enhancing growth of different cell types and affects proliferation by keratinocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of topical insulin on diabetic wound healing among patients with diabetic foot ulcer. Research design: A quasi experimental research design was utilized. Settings: The study was conducted at inpatient vascular surgery department at Alexandria Main University Hospital. Tools of data collection: One tool was used for data collection. It consisted of two parts. Part I: Socio demographic and clinical data and Part II: Bates-Jensen wound assessment tool. Results: The result of the study revealed that there was statistical significant improvement in all items of foot ulcer assessment in the study group over control after two and three weeks of daily topical insulin dressing. There was statistical significant improvement in diabetic foot ulcer severity among the study and control groups after one week, after two and three weeks daily topical insulin dressing. The findings of the present study also showed that diabetic foot ulcer in the study group need less time than the control group for complete healing. Conclusion: This study concluded that patients with diabetic foot ulcer who receive topical insulin dressing exhibit enhanced healing rate than patients who do not receive such intervention. Recommendations: Incorporate the technique of topical insulin dressing in clinical nursing curricula, evaluate this method on other type of wound than diabetic foot ulcer and in service training programs for nurses about topical insulin wound dressing.