Health experts at the Patient Safety Middle East Exhibition and Conference highlighted the importance of wound care for those in the UAE and the region.
Patients locally are in need of stricter wound prevention and care than usual because the region contains six out of the world’s 10 countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes, said Emilio Galea, head of nursing education at Al Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
Experts said the biggest challenge in wound management was dealing with disease-related wounds, especially those that are difficult to heal and could easily become chronic.
Speaking on the second day of the conference held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Mr Galea said that those with diabetes and pre-diabetes were at a higher risk of wounds causing serious health complications.
“By 2020, 32 per cent of the adult UAE population may have diabetes or pre-diabetes, which could bring about conditions that cause ulcers, which need constant care and attention or they will lead to loss of the limb, mostly the lower extremities,” Mr Galea said.
Poor circulation and nerve damage as a result of diabetes could leave patients with a lack of sensory perception in the feet. This couldcause foot ulcers and, ultimately, the loss of the limb.
Wounds as minimal as blisters, small scratches or even shaving burns could lead to further complications for diabetes patients.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
