Comparative Study Of Effect Of Topical Insulin With Normal Saline Dressing In Healing Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers – A Hospital Based One Year Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background and objectives ABSTRACT Numerous topical medication and gels are promoted for ulcer care and healing. Relatively few have proved to be more efficacious than saline wet to dry dressings. The present study was aimed to compare the effect of topical insulin and normal saline dressing in healing of diabetic foot ulcers. Methodology The present one year hospital based randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum from January 2011 to December 2011. A total of 60 patients with diabetic foot ulcers were studied. Based on the envelop method, patients were divided into two groups of 30 patients each that is group A ( topical insulin) and group B ( normal saline ) . Results In this males ( 66.67% in group A and 83.33% in group B ) outnumbered females in both the groups with male to female ratio of 2:1 in group A and 4:1 in group B. The mean age in group A was 52.00 ± 11.00 years and in group B it was 57.00 ± 9.80 years ( p=1.000) . Among patients with group A significant reduction of mean ulcer area was observed ( 307.23 ± 169.87 mm 2 ) with higher mean percentage reduction ( 35.19 ± 19.00 percent ) whereas in group B the mean percentage reduction was significantly less ( 18.82 ± 4.06 percent ) with less reduction of mean final ulcer area ( 149.90 ± 64.45 mm 2 ) ( p<0.001) . IV Conclusion and interpretation Overall, topical insulin dressing provided favourable outcome in patients with diabetic foot ulcer by significant reduction in wound area when compared to normal saline dressing and it had positive role in reducing the wound infection if present.