Diabetes

Diabetes - Glucose in blood

The diabetes risk.

Prolonged high levels of sugar in the blood will cause changes on a cellular level that will affect all organs in the body.  In diabetes blood becomes thicker with higher affinity to clot and create deposits on the walls of blood vessels, making them narrower and less flexible.

Most vulnerable is the fine capillary network, also known as the micro-circulation, particularly in the skin, kidneys, and retina.  When these small vessels are damaged, they are no longer able to provide oxygen and nutrients to the nearby tissue, nor to remove metabolic waste products.  This is the underlying mechanism explaining why diabetic wounds take longer to heal, how kidney and retinal damage occurs, and why the risk of stroke and heart disease is increased in diabetics.

For people with diabetes oxygen therapy is the best health care option. It can be a limb and lifesaving solution.

The risk can be assessed with new non-invasive technology that can measure the level of oxygen and blood flow in the microcirculation (micro-circulation assessment).

If you are currently living with diabetes, or at risk of developing diabetes, you need to pay close attention to your circulation and how well it delivers oxygen.

Oxygen deficiency is typically caused by poor microcirculation. Lack of oxygen is the basis for serious illnesses where tissue and organs start to break down.


Preventive oxygen therapy

Preserving healthy microcirculation on which all body organs depend is the among the most important things in diabetic management, in addition to controlling  blood glucose levels and regular physical exercise.

The role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in diabetes preventive care is in re-oxygenating hypoxic tissue, regulating blood sugar level and promoting growth of blood vessels and nerve endings.  It acts as a blood thinner and improves red blood cell compliance,  enabling the blood to enter finer capillaries where the most effective transfer of oxygen takes place.  This therapy can both reduce the risk of blood clotting and thrombosis associated with diabetes and stroke as well as heighten metabolism and tissue perfusion to meet an increased demand for oxygen during activity or injury/illness.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has also been shown to improve lung function for better oxygen extraction and delivery.  Other benefits include improved heart pumping function, bone density, and immune system response.

A breakthrough study by Dr. Stephen Thom (2005) showed that hyperbaric oxygen facilitates the release of stem cells from bone marrow.  These cells are very important in the repair and rejuvenation of our body. (read more: ref )

With hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a staggering 70 to 90 percent of primary amputations associated with diabetes can be prevented.   In addition, it can speed up recovery following a heart attack or stroke, and reduce recurrences.

Diabetes is the leading cause of leg amputation (50%) chronic kidney failure (50%) blindness (12%) and stroke and heart attack

ref: Canadian Diabetes Association




Early warning signs

Poor micro-circulation deprives organs of needed oxygen and can cause them to malfunction.  Left untreated this can lead to damage of nerve endings; early symptoms include pain in the feet or hands, numbness, or “pins and needles”.  In the intermediate stages, a person with compromised micro-circulation will be unable to heal normally, often resulting in a diabetic leg ulcer.  More than half of diabetic leg ulcers end up with amputation;  a drastic step which in most cases can be prevented with early oxygen treatment.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can also effectively prevent devastating secondary complications such as chronic wounds, amputations, blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke.

“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy proved to be the very best non intrusive therapy with the most positive end results. I have tried many natural remedies to help with the negative long term effects that my very brittle diabetes has caused. I would definitely recommend this therapy to everyone that needs some help. 

Thank you so very much.” -JL.C. Surrey, Sep 2006


Early warning signs of numbness and pain can easily escalate to chronic wounds, gangrene, amputation or worse.

Diagnosis of poor oxygen supply is important and can be done with a micro-circulation assessment

 

Cost / benefits analysis

Studies show that 70 to 90% of diabetes related amputations can be avoided with timely hyperbaric oxygen therapy (ref).

It has furthermore been documented to be a cost effective therapy compared to traditional options (ref, ref)

 

Signs and Symptoms

  • skin – dry, cracks, blisters, color changes or infection, wounds that won’t heal
  • legs and feet – swelling, cramps and pain when walking, pain at rest, “pins and needles”, numbness, weakness, non healing wounds
  • vision – blurry vision, pain in the eye, eye infection, headaches or sudden loss of vision
  • brain – reduced brain activity, memory loss, stroke
  • heart – reduced heart function, congestive heart failure
  • bladder – frequency, urgency, or pain with urination, infections
  • kidney – reduced function, failure
  • sexual drive – reduced libido, impotence/frigidity
  • immune system – reduced immune system response, prone to infection, low energy

Rationale for use of hyperbaric oxygen

  • revitalizes by improving blood flow and oxygen to all organs
  • regenerates small blood vessels (capillaries), nerves and bones
  • rejuvenates by releasing stem cells from bone marrow for tissue repair
  • reduces pain, swelling, tingling, cramps, numbness
  • shortens recovery time after injury, surgery or in chronic illness
  • reduces and prevents infection
  • suppresses inflammation

The most effective health care is preventive care!

Turn back the ‘Diabetes clock’ with oxygen therapy

Benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) in diabetic complications 

In problems with the nervous system: 

  • HBO reduces neuropathy (numbness in hands, arms, legs and feet) by promoting peripheral nerve regeneration and microcirculation
  • HBO is an effective treatment for Bell’s palsy
  • HBO is helpful in problems with the heart, digestive system and other autonomic nervous system functions
In problems with legs and feet: 

  • HBO relieves pain in legs by improving circulation
  • HBO reduces swelling
  • HBO improves sensitivity and decreases parasthesias (pins and needles sensation)
  • HBO increases muscle strength, reduces weakness and fatigability (getting tired)

When wounds/ulcers occur:

  • HBO speeds up ulcer healing by promoting blood circulation
  • HBO reduces/prevents infection
  • HBO speeds up bone growth
  • HBO enhances peripheral nerve regeneration
  • HBO prevents thrombosis by increasing blood flow and decreasing its viscosity
  • Wounds resistant to healing in diabetes can in 50% of cases lead to limb amputation.
In eye problem: 

  • HBO improves retinal blood flow for better visual sharpness
  • HBO reduces the incidence of blindness caused by lack of oxygen
  • HBO suppresses infections

In kidney and bladder problems:

  • HBO improves bladder control reducing urinary urgency and frequency
  • HBO improves kidney function
  • HBO reduces/prevents infection of kidney and bladder

References:

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