WOUNDS HEALING

Wounds Healing in Diabetic patients

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ABSTRACT

This research study is an attempt to explore the effect that wound healing has in the patients of diabetes. Wound healing is a complex process, as is the pathophysiology that leads to impaired wound healing in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease in which elevated blood glucose level leads to glycemic-induced pathology. The rate of wound healing in patients with diabetes is significantly slower than that of non-diabetic patients. A combination of medical and surgical therapy is used to improve wound healing in patients with DM. The main purpose of this research study is to discuss how diabetes impairs wound healing. This research study has adopted a secondary and a qualitative method of research in order to meet the aim and objectives of the research.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACTII

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.1. Background of the Research1

1.2. Research Aims and Objectives2

1.4. Significance of the Research3

1.5. Structure of the thesis3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW5

2.1. Introduction5

2.2. Background on Diabetes and Diabetic patients5

2.3. Impaired Wound Healing in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus7

2.4. Wound Healing in Diabetes Mellitus8

2.4.1. Keratinocyte Dysfunction8

2.4.2. Fibroblast Dysfunction9

2.4.3. Macrophage Dysfunction10

2.5. Current Therapy Regarding Wound Healing in Diabetes Mellitus10

2.6. Healing in Diabetic Patients11

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY13

3.1. Introduction13

3.2. Research Design13

3.3. Overview of the Qualitative Research14

3.4. Overview of the Secondary Research14

3.5. Rationale for Applying Qualitative Methodology Research Design15

3.6. Participants15

3.7. Informed Consent16

3.8. Ethical Considerations16

3.9. Confidentiality16

3.10. Conclusion17

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION18

4.1. Findings and analysis18

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION22

REFERENCES24

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this chapter is to provide the reader a brief overview about the research topic and provides the main purpose and aim behind this research study. It comprises of the background of the problem, which provides a brief overview of the topic of the research and the problem.

1.1. Background of the Research

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease in which elevated blood glucose level leads to glycemic-induced pathology. A patient with new onset DM may present clinically with lethargy, polydipsia and polyuria (Lan et al. 2008). To confirm the diagnosis of DM, laboratory tests are performed to measure the level of blood glucose on two separate days. The current standard guidelines used for the diagnosis of diabetes are as follows: a fasting elevated blood glucose level greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL, or a random non-fasting blood glucose level greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL, or a 2 hour plasma glucose level greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL during a glucose tolerance test (Lan et al. 2008).

Insulin therapy is the primary treatment for T1 DM patients. Ideally, a patient should maintain his or her blood glucose level within a narrow range. The overall therapeutic goal in T1 DM is to maintain a pre-prandial glucose level of 90-130 mg/dL and a peak postprandial glucose level of less than 180 mg/dL (Lan et al. 2008). Glycosylated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1C), is measured to determine the average blood glucose level over a three month period. The goal of a patient with DM is to maintain his or her HgbA1C at less than ...