{"id":32796,"date":"2022-02-11T08:17:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T08:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/?post_type=diabeteshealth&p=32796"},"modified":"2026-05-27T01:23:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T01:23:51","slug":"how-to-improve-wound-healing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/how-to-improve-wound-healing\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Natural Ways Diabetics Can Improve Wound Healing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Everyone will get a wound in their lifetime, most likely several. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wounds can vary from a minor cut to a major laceration that requires stitches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have diabetes, a simple wound can lead to major complications because of the role blood sugar levels have on wound healing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what can you do to improve wound healing if you have diabetes? Keep reading to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is wound healing slower with diabetes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several reasons why diabetes causes slower wound healing. Chronic high blood sugar levels<\/a> reduce circulation, which means your cells don\u2019t receive the nutrients and oxygen they need to promote healing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neuropathy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your diabetes is uncontrolled<\/a>, you might develop neuropathy<\/a>. Neuropathy is when your nerves become damaged, causing symptoms like tingling and loss of sensation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have neuropathy, you might not sense pain as easily as you used to, which can cause wounds to go untreated. The longer your wound goes untreated, the longer the healing process will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inflammatory response<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Inflammation is thought to be one of the primary causes of diabetes<\/a>, particularly type 2. While inflammation<\/a> is a normal part of wound healing, too much inflammation can cause delayed wound healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Altered immune system response<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One study found that people with diabetes had lower levels of a gene responsible for wound healing present in their foot ulcers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with type 2 diabetes<\/a> are generally thought to have an altered immune response<\/a>, increasing the susceptibility to illness, infections<\/a>, and other conditions which may alter the wound healing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


When your immune system can\u2019t fight off things like bacteria, wounds are more likely to become infected. Infected wounds are more complicated and take longer to heal, and may lead to complications like amputations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delayed wound healing<\/a> is part of the reason for the high percentage of amputations among people with diabetes<\/a>. Diabetes is believed to be the leading cause of amputations worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common reasons for amputations in people with diabetes are poorly healing diabetic foot ulcers<\/a>, which can spread to the leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 natural ways to improve wound healing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Control your blood sugar levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best way to improve wound healing when you have diabetes is to control your blood sugar levels<\/a>. The better your blood sugar control, the less likely you are to suffer from poorly-healing wounds, infections, neuropathy, and other complications<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can promote healthy blood sugar levels by eating a healthy diet, being physically active, checking your blood sugar regularly, and taking your diabetes medications<\/a> as prescribed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Increase your vitamin C intake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin C is important for wound healing. Vitamin C<\/a> helps form collagen, the most abundant protein in your body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collagen helps form strong and elastic skin and is necessary for new skin growth. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant<\/a> that helps fight against inflammation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin C can also be applied topically to help fade scars from old wounds, thanks to its ability to lighten skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boost your vitamin C intake by choosing foods like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n