If you are a diabetic, it's imperative to take good care of your feet. Over time, you can experience of loss of sensation, called diabetic neuropathy, which is apt to affect your feet. This loss of feeling in your feet can lead to tissue breakdown and the formation of an open sore called a diabetic ulcer. Never ignore a diabetic ulcer or try to treat it yourself. Consult your podiatrist and treat the wound exactly as directed. Ask your podiatrist about using silver sulfadiazine to hasten healing and prevent infection of your diabetic ulcer.
Diabetic Ulcers
A diabetic ulcer requires treatment by your podiatrist or physician because an untreated ulcer can lead to amputation. Diabetes has an impact on your circulation and nervous system, especially if your blood sugar levels aren't well-controlled. Diabetes often causes reduced blood flow to your extremities, especially your feet, and sensory damage to your nerves. A combination of reduced sensation, poor blood flow and a minor trauma can result in tissue breakdown at the site of the injury and the formation of an open wound, called an ulcer. A diabetic ulcer is typically slow to heal and at risk of infection if not treated properly.
Silver Sulfadiazine Cream
Silver sulfadiazine is a topical sulfonamide antibiotic cream, which also contains silver. Originally developed to increase healing and prevent infection in burn patients, it is also used in the treatment of diabetic ulcers. Silver sulfadiazine possesses strong antibiotic properties and is effective against numerous strains of bacteria and fungi. Silver sulfadiazine appears to work by disrupting the cell membrane or cell wall of the microbe. Silver sulfadiazine is for external use only and should be applied with a sterile applicator, then covered with a sterile bandage to protect the wound.
Ulcer Treatment With Silver Sulfadiazine
Diabetic ulcers are typically managed with a combination of antibiotics, such as silver sulfadiazine cream, wound-healing agents and protective dressings. According to a 2004 study published in the Spanish medical journal "Revista de Enfermeria," doctors at the Hospital de la Rioja in Barcelona, Spain, found two out of three diabetic ulcers treated with silver sulfadiazine cream covered by a semi-permeable bandage healed more quickly and with less sign of infection. There is no one treatment that works well for all diabetics. Your podiatrist will determine which regimen is the best for you.
Silver Sulfadiazene Precautions
Inform your physician of all the medications and dietary supplements you take and whether you are allergic to sulfa drugs or silver. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any serious side effects such as burning, itching, pain, sore throat, fever, bruising, blood in your urine, aching joints or yellowing of your eyes. Silver sulfadiazine cream causes a temporary skin discoloration around the ulcer site, which is considered normal. Don't use silver sulfadiazine if you are pregnant, anemic, have liver or kidney disease. Certain medications can react with silver sulfadiazine, including methenamine and collagenase.
References
- "Clinical Diabetes"; Evaluation and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers; Ingrid Krause and Steven Edelman; April 2006
- Oxford Journals: "Wound Dressings in Diabetic Foot Disease"; J.R. Hilton et al.; 2004
- Gold Standard: Silver Sulfadiazine
- Drugs.com: Silver Sulfadiazine
- "Revista de Enfermeria"; Hydro-Cellular Dressing and Silver Sulfadiazine. Evaluation of its Combination in the Treatment of Infected Skin Ulcers.; Cuervo F. Martinez et al.; July 2004
