A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TOPICAL INSULIN AND NORMAL SALINE DRESSING IN WOUND HEALING IN DIABETIC FOOT ULCER

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is multifactorial multiorgan disease characterized by state of hyperglycemia in the body. The present study was conducted to compare topical insulin and normal saline dressing in wound healing in diabetic foot ulcer. Materials & Methods: The present study was conducted on 108 diabetic patients with diabetic foot ulcer of both genders. Patients were randomly classified into 2 groups. Each group comprised of 54 patients. Group I patients were treated with topical insulin dressings and group II patients were treated with normal saline dressings. Size of the ulcer was measured at the beginning and on regular interval after 7 days and 14 days. Mean depth and presence of slough was also recorded. Results: The mean size of the ulcer was 5.4 cm2 in group I and 5.2 cm2 in group II and depth of the ulcer was 8.2 mm in group I and 8.0 mm in group II. All 54 patients had slough in both groups and none had granulation tissue in both groups at day 0. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05). The mean size of the ulcer was 3.8 cm2 in group I and 4.5 cm2 in group II and depth of the ulcer was 6.8 mm in group I and 7.8 mm in group II. 14 patients in group I and 28 in group II had slough and 40 patients in group I and 26 in group II had granulation tissue at day 7. The mean size of the ulcer was 1.8 cm2 in group I and 2.9 cm2 in group II and depth of the ulcer was 3.4 mm in group I and 4.8 mm in group II. 5 patients in group I and 20 patients in group II had had slough and 49 patients in group I and 34 in group II had granulation tissue at day 14. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Authors found that topical insulin is efficient in patients with diabetic foot ulcer as compared to normal saline. There was fastest recovery and reduction in size of ulcer with insulin.