Expert Advice
Home care services
Home Service In Foot Treatment
Treatment of diabetic foot is complex and may continue for months. But, one doesn’t have to be admitted in hospital all the time. After the necessary operations, and intensive treatment, many parts of treatment can be carried at home.
- What are the advantages of home treatment?-
Health benefits – It cuts down the risk of hospital acquired infections.
Cost benefits – Cuts down an immense amount of cost. This can be used on essential things like specialized dressings and footwear
Social and family benefits – It is a big challenge to keep one patient admitted in hospital, keeping attendants, and arranging food. All this hassle is avoided
What Services Can Be Offered At Home In Diabetic Foot Treatment?
Home Dressing in Diabetic foot
Home Suction therapy in diabetic foot - NPWT/VAC (Negative pressure wound therapy/ Vacuum assisted closure).
IV (intravenous) antibiotics at home.
Home service for Diabetic footwear,
Physiotherapy for Diabetic foot at home
We Are Here To Help When You Need Us
01. Home Dressing in Diabetic foot
o Most dressings, from a simple to complex medicated plaster dressings can be done at home. This saves the hassle of booking appointment, booking an ambulance, bringing patient to hospital and the cost.
o Time - A dressing may take anywhere from 5 minutes to one hour.
o Dressing material - Special kits are available to avoid infection and provide same sterile techniques at home. You may be asked to buy some dressing material. It is cheaper, if you buy it in bulk.
o Team - Our team has highly experienced dressers/nurses/technicians to provide good dressings at your home.
o Limitations - There are two limitations. Firstly, anesthesia can’t be given at home. Most dressing may not be painful, owing to neuropathy (A complication of diabetes, where sensations are lost), but if pain is there it needs anesthesia and such dressing should be done in hospital. Secondly, major cleaning, cutting (debridement) can’t be done at home. If there is excessive dirt accumulation, it may first need proper surgical debridement in hospital.
o Supervision - You still need to visit hospital on a regular basis, say once a week to see diabetic foot surgeon Dr Dabhade.
o More information –You can find more details on diabetic foot dressing in ‘Non-surgical treatment in diabetic foot treatment’
o Time - A dressing may take anywhere from 5 minutes to one hour.
o Dressing material - Special kits are available to avoid infection and provide same sterile techniques at home. You may be asked to buy some dressing material. It is cheaper, if you buy it in bulk.
o Team - Our team has highly experienced dressers/nurses/technicians to provide good dressings at your home.
o Limitations - There are two limitations. Firstly, anesthesia can’t be given at home. Most dressing may not be painful, owing to neuropathy (A complication of diabetes, where sensations are lost), but if pain is there it needs anesthesia and such dressing should be done in hospital. Secondly, major cleaning, cutting (debridement) can’t be done at home. If there is excessive dirt accumulation, it may first need proper surgical debridement in hospital.
o Supervision - You still need to visit hospital on a regular basis, say once a week to see diabetic foot surgeon Dr Dabhade.
o More information –You can find more details on diabetic foot dressing in ‘Non-surgical treatment in diabetic foot treatment’
02. Home Suction therapy in diabetic foot - NPWT/VAC (Negative pressure wound therapy/ Vacuum assisted closure).
o VAC / NPWT - A low suction is constantly applied to keep the wound clean. This avoids the need of regular dressing; instead a change can be done every 5 days. This is of a great help, socially and medically. Evidence shows that it improves the rate of healing and helps avoid amputations.
o Team - Highly experienced VAC technicians come to your home for the VAC therapy.
o Supervision - You still need to visit hospital on a regular basis, say once in 7-14 days to see diabetic foot surgeon Dr Dabhade.
o Time – Usually may take 45 minutes. This saves the hassle of booking appointment, booking an ambulance, bringing patient to hospital and the cost.
o Limitations - It can be done at home in selected cases. There are two limitations. Firstly, anesthesia can’t be given at home. Most dressing may not be painful, owing to neuropathy, but if pain is there it needs anesthesia and such dressing should be done in hospital.o Limitations - It can be done at home in selected cases. There are two limitations. Firstly, anesthesia can’t be given at home. Most dressing may not be painful, owing to neuropathy, but if pain is there it needs anesthesia and such dressing should be done in hospital.
Secondly, major cleaning, cutting (debridement) can’t be done at home. If there is excessive dirt accumulation, it may first need proper surgical debridement in hospital.
o More information - This is discussed in more detail in ‘Special treatment and advances in diabetic foot’
o Team - Highly experienced VAC technicians come to your home for the VAC therapy.
o Supervision - You still need to visit hospital on a regular basis, say once in 7-14 days to see diabetic foot surgeon Dr Dabhade.
o Time – Usually may take 45 minutes. This saves the hassle of booking appointment, booking an ambulance, bringing patient to hospital and the cost.
o Limitations - It can be done at home in selected cases. There are two limitations. Firstly, anesthesia can’t be given at home. Most dressing may not be painful, owing to neuropathy, but if pain is there it needs anesthesia and such dressing should be done in hospital.o Limitations - It can be done at home in selected cases. There are two limitations. Firstly, anesthesia can’t be given at home. Most dressing may not be painful, owing to neuropathy, but if pain is there it needs anesthesia and such dressing should be done in hospital.
Secondly, major cleaning, cutting (debridement) can’t be done at home. If there is excessive dirt accumulation, it may first need proper surgical debridement in hospital.
o More information - This is discussed in more detail in ‘Special treatment and advances in diabetic foot’
03. IV (intravenous) antibiotics
o Some of our hospitals have a facility to continue IV antibiotics at home. This saves the hassle of keeping patient admitted in hospital for weeks, just for the sake of IV antibiotics.
o Special team - Usually, the patient needs to be treated in the same hospital before and as a continuity of treatment, antibiotics are given under the guidance of specialist doctor from hospital. Only a member of the special home team, usually an experienced nurse, is allowed to do this job.
o First dose - Preferably, the first dose of antibiotic is given in hospital setting under direct medical supervision. This is to ensure safety, in case of any reaction to the antibiotic.
o It is advised not to change the dose, the brand or the method of giving antibiotic when it is given at home, unless specified by treating infectious disease specialist
o Special team - Usually, the patient needs to be treated in the same hospital before and as a continuity of treatment, antibiotics are given under the guidance of specialist doctor from hospital. Only a member of the special home team, usually an experienced nurse, is allowed to do this job.
o First dose - Preferably, the first dose of antibiotic is given in hospital setting under direct medical supervision. This is to ensure safety, in case of any reaction to the antibiotic.
o It is advised not to change the dose, the brand or the method of giving antibiotic when it is given at home, unless specified by treating infectious disease specialist
04. Home service for Diabetic footwear and appliances
o Measurement – of your feet are taken by the technician. He can show samples of different footwear.
o Nature of footwear is based on the nature of your problem, the advice by diabetic foot surgeon Dr Dabhade and your budget.
o Footwear is prepared and delivered to your house. Fitting is checked by the technician.
o Walker and other appliances also can be home delivered.
o Nature of footwear is based on the nature of your problem, the advice by diabetic foot surgeon Dr Dabhade and your budget.
o Footwear is prepared and delivered to your house. Fitting is checked by the technician.
o Walker and other appliances also can be home delivered.
05. Physiotherapy for Diabetic foot at home
o Our skilled physiotherapist can come to your home to provide physiotherapy.
o The whole purpose of treating diabetic foot problem, is to bring patient back to his normal status regarding movement as much as possible. Whether treatment involved simple rest and antibiotics or a big surgery like below knee amputation, patient will have some weakness, there is loss of some body part and some muscle function. Also, people get mentally depressed. The whole body needs to be retrained.
o A good physiotherapist will help to
Regain strength in remaining body and muscles
Improve function of joints, including movement
Help in adapting to change like using walker, artificial limb or special boots
o The whole purpose of treating diabetic foot problem, is to bring patient back to his normal status regarding movement as much as possible. Whether treatment involved simple rest and antibiotics or a big surgery like below knee amputation, patient will have some weakness, there is loss of some body part and some muscle function. Also, people get mentally depressed. The whole body needs to be retrained.
o A good physiotherapist will help to
Regain strength in remaining body and muscles
Improve function of joints, including movement
Help in adapting to change like using walker, artificial limb or special boots