Serious complications from treating diabetes by word of mouth
Many diabetics treat their wounds using folk remedies, passed down by word of mouth, and end up having to go to the emergency room due to severe infection.
Mr. PVH (62 years old, Ba Ria - Vung Tau) has had diabetes for 10 years. In a motorbike accident, he had two peanut-sized scratches on the top of his left foot. After a few days, the wound oozed fluid and was painful.
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| The Ministry of Health said that 5% - 7% of diabetics suffer from foot ulcers and the risk of amputation in diabetics is 15 - 46 times higher than in people without the disease. |
Fearing that his leg would be amputated, Mr. H. was introduced by an acquaintance to places that treated him with folk remedies, passed down by word of mouth.
In just 5 weeks, he went to Dong Nai , Lam Dong, Dong Thap, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City to apply leaves, medicinal powder, oral medicine, topical medicine... but the wound still did not heal, the ulcer spread, became deeper, necrotic, smelled bad, and was black like tar. With increasing anxiety, Mr. H. often suffered from insomnia, loss of appetite, and lost 2kg.
In early July, Mr. H. was taken to the emergency room due to severe leg pain, high fever for many days and he began to fall into a coma. The doctor said he had a serious infection, and if not treated promptly, there was a risk of more severe necrosis leading to amputation (leg amputation due to complications of diabetes).
Mrs. PHL (62 years old, Lam Dong ), also had diabetes for many years, recently had a boil on her calf, she used leaves herself, chewed them and applied them to the boil.
After more than a week, the boil did not get better but got bigger. Ms. L. asked an acquaintance to use a needle to prick the boil and drain the pus, and bought black powder medicine from an acquaintance in the area to apply.
The boil was as small as a corn kernel, gradually swelling to the size of a bowl of rice, the surrounding skin gradually darkening. Mrs. L. often had trouble sleeping due to the pain. After being advised many times by her daughter-in-law, she took a bus to Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for examination.
Dr. Lam Van Hoang, Head of the Department of Endocrinology - Diabetes, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that after 2 weeks of intensive care, removing necrotic tissue, controlling blood sugar, high-dose antibiotic treatment, daily wound care, and placing a negative pressure suction machine (VAC) to help the wound heal quickly, both Mr. H. and Mrs. L. were able to keep their feet intact and escape disability.
Doctor Hoang said that folk remedies such as applying leaves, decoctions from leaves or bark, drinking leaves… all have certain effects, but more medical research is needed to clarify which parts of the medicinal plant, what the content is, and how to use it safely. In particular, methods such as using needles to extract pus and cutting are very dangerous for people with diabetes.
Not only that, people with diabetes are also susceptible to infection and take longer to heal than people without the disease, as their effectiveness is unclear and their safety is low.
The Ministry of Health said that 5% - 7% of people with diabetes suffer from foot ulcers and the risk of amputation in people with diabetes is 15 - 46 times higher than in people without the disease. Worldwide, every 30 seconds a person with diabetes has a leg amputated.
Patients should go to the hospital promptly, receive appropriate and scientific treatment with advanced methods. Ulcers, infections, necrosis, and amputations in diabetics pose many challenges in treatment as well as the patient's quality of life, such as the patient having to endure pain due to illness, spending a lot of time caring for wounds, and the burden of treatment costs.
Patients may be psychologically affected and haunted by the sight of the wound. Amputation of the leg due to diabetes causes disability and loss of the ability to walk, greatly affecting the daily life of the patient and family.
Dr. Hoang said that each diabetic patient has a unique health condition. Therefore, the treatment regimen for each patient needs to be individualized.
For people with diabetes, in addition to treating the disease, foot care and preventing foot complications are also part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Patients are advised to have a foot complication screening examination at least once a year to detect early and treat conditions such as atherosclerosis and vascular occlusion, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, hyperkeratotic nails, ingrown toenails, and calluses.
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