Wound Care Centers Observe National Diabetes Month

Mercy Health - Cincinnati which provides advanced, quality, compassionate care in your neighborhood through its care network, announces that its wound care centers are marking November’s National Diabetes Month observance by raising awareness of diabetes care.

The centers, which are part of the Healogics network, offer advanced therapies to patients suffering from chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers. Center staff will mark November’s observance by visiting local physician offices to provide education on the treatment of potential or existing chronic wounds for people also suffering from diabetes.

An estimated 30.3 million people in the United States (9.4 percent of the population) have diabetes, including 7.2 million who are unaware they are living with the disease. The percentage of adults with diabetes increases with age, reaching a high of 25.2 percent among those aged 65 years or older.  In addition to age, risk factors for diabetes include diet, activity level, obesity and heredity.

High blood sugar levels, poor circulation, immune system issues, nerve damage and infections may contribute to a non-healing diabetic foot ulcer. Approximately 15 percent of people living with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer. An estimated 14-24 percent of people with foot ulcers will experience an amputation.

Early detection and intervention can help to mitigate the possibility of limb loss.

Mercy Health’s wound care centers recommend that people with diabetes do the following to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers:

• stop smoking immediately
• have a doctor perform a comprehensive foot examination at least four times each year
• conduct daily self-inspections of the feet or have a family member perform the inspection
• take regular care of the feet, including cleaning toenails and taking care of corns and calluses
• choose supportive, proper footwear and wear socks
• take steps to improve circulation such as eating healthier and exercising on a regular basis

Proper wound care is imperative to healing diabetic foot ulcers. Mercy Health’s wound care centers offer a number of leading-edge treatments, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, total contact casting and negative pressure wound therapy. These specialized wound care therapies can aid in wound closure, new tissue growth, wound tissue regeneration and much more. 

Contact Mercy Health’s Wound Care Centers to learn more about diabetic foot ulcers or if you have a wound that will not heal. To schedule an appointment, please call:

• Mercy Health - Clermont Hospital      513-735-8924
• Mercy Health - Fairfield Hospital        513-774-2880
• Mercy Health - West Hospital             513-215-5030
• The Jewish Hospital - Mercy Health   513-686-5757

Headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, Healogics is the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services. Healogics and its affiliated companies manage a network of Wound Care Centers® throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Healogics technology-enabled wound care model supports the critical connection between patients with chronic wounds and multi-disciplinary teams for continuous, collaborative, patient-centered care. For more information, please visit www.healogics.com.