Diabetic foot ulcers are common in both Type 1 (insulin-dependent) and Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent diabetes) and can lead to considerable disability.
Because of the absence of suitable treatments, these ulcers tend to recur and often lead to amputation to part of the affected leg or even to the death of the patient. Healing, if it occurs, can take months to years, but many never heal at all.
Diabetic ulcers occur mainly due to reduced oxygen and nutrients reaching the skin (ischemia) causing breakdown of overlying tissue. Also, the nerves controlling the blood supply may be damaged (peripheral neuropathy) which further reduces blood supply. The affected skin then becomes vulnerable to even minor trauma which breaks the skin surface. This is the beginning of an ulcer, and often considerable associated pain and mental stress ensues.
Like leprosy ulcers, diabetic ulcers can respond well, and often quickly to wheatgrass extract as shown by the cases below. Medical research and clinical observation suggest that wheatgrass contains bioactive molecules that stimulate production of growth factors. These factors help to repair the tiny nerves that control the calibre of the microscopical blood vessels supplying the skin. (View this video on You Tube that shows how quickly wheatgrass can influence the micro-circulation in a positive way). Prevention is better than cure, so wheatgrass should be applied to the ulcer(s) to maintain the blood circulation and prevent such ulcers forming.
In the photos below, some cases were treated with wheatgrass extract daily, however, experience has shown that twice weekly application only is preferable.Even once weekly will produce results.Daily application may in fact slow recovery by increasing exudate production (the natural fluid that occurs during wound healing). My easy rule to remember is to apply a little extract on Mondays and Fridays only, then cover the wound with a light gauze dressing – and persevere.
In the following cases, unless otherwise stated, only wheatgrass extract has been applied to the wounds. They have not been physically debrided, nor have antibiotics or sophisticated dressings or other treatments been used.
Case #1 Diabetic ulcer (Left foot)
Fig. 1. Diabetic forefoot ulcer present 4 months in a 49 yo male. Unresponsive to orthodox treatment. Commenced daily application of wheatgrass extract. Note hematoma (blood clot) bulging upwards from ulcer centre.
Fig. 2. Same patient after 2 days’ application of wheatgrass extract. Note that the hematoma has burst, blood clot resolved and new skin is encroaching on the ulcer surface around its upper and central margins. The remaining ulcer surface is well vascularised and vital.
Fig. 3. Same patient 2 weeks after daily application of wheatgrass extract. New skin has filled about 90% of the ulcer surface and vascularisation is no longer visible. The wound is clean and exudate minimal.
Fig. 4. Same patient 4 weeks after commencement of wheatgrass extract. Ulcer is almost completely filled and exudate is absent.
Fig. 5. Same patient 6 weeks after daily application of wheatgrass extract. Ulcer is completely filled and lesion markedly reduced in size. No exudate.
Fig. 6. Same patient 8 weeks after commencement of wheatgrass extract. Ulcer remains dormant.
Case #1 Diabetic ulcer (Right foot)
(Sufficient improvement to proceed to skin graft)
Fig. 3. 2 weeks after daily application of wheatgrass extract. Revascularisation of the ulcer surface is clearly visible and new tissue formation is occurring around the edges. Note that the satellite ulcer has already almost completely healed. (arrow)
Fig. 2. Same patient. Closer view. Note satellite ulcer (arrow). Daily treatment with wheatgrass extract commenced.
Fig. 4. 2 months after commencement of wheatgrass extract. The ulcer is almost completely filled, is no longer protruding above the wound edges and the surface is almost completely dry with early re-epithelialisation occurring. The overall surface area has reduced in size.
Fig. 5. At 4 months, the wound is clean, dry and completely covered with new skin formation. (Re-epithelialisation). Because the wound had improved to the point where skin grafting was possible, the patient was advised to proceed, but declined.
Fig. 6. At 7.5 months, the ulcer persists, but has not regressed. The patient also reports return of sensation which may suggest recovery of peripheral nerve function. He continues to refuse application of a skin graft.
Case #2 Large toe amputation site heals quickly
Fig. 1. 40 year old non-insulin dependent diabetic female. Painful open wound persists four weeks after amputation of big toe which became gangrenous due to diabetes. Treated with placental extract but wound very slow to heal and weeping profusely. Commenced application of wheatgrass extract every second day.
Fig. 2. After 5 weeks wheatgrass treatment and simple dry gauze dressings, the wound has contracted significantly, the surface is dry and clean and the patient is no longer in pain. There is no evidence of infection.
Fig. 3. At 9 weeks the ulcer continues to contract, remains dry and there is no sign of infection. This is an unusual outcome after amputation as there is always risk of recurrence, bone infection and further amputation. This patient has not been taking antibiotics.
Fig. 4. At 4 months, The wound is healed, clean and pain free. There is no evidence of bone infection. The patient’s medications are for diabetes treatment only.
Case #3 Diabetic ulcer skin graft heals in 3 weeks
Fig. 1. Non-insulin dependent diabetic patient, 6 years. Had skin grafted over non-healing diabetic ulcer 6 months earlier. Part of the graft failed to heal (arrow), and did not respond to various treatments.
Fig. 2. Close-up view of ulcerated area prior to commencement of treatment with wheatgrass extract.
Fig. 3. Three weeks after commencement of daily application of wheatgrass extract, the ulcer has healed. (arrow)
Case #4. Diabetic ulcer heals in 5 weeks after surgical debridement
Fig. 1. 55 y.o. female. Insulin-dependent diabetic, ulcer present greater than one year. Day 1 after surgical debridment and application of wheatgrass extract. Treatment conducted in a large specialist hospital for diabetic patients in India.
Fig. 2. After 2 weeks’ daily application of wheatgrass extract, the wound is clean and there has been rapid regrowth of normal skin around the wound.
Fig. 3. After 5 weeks daily wheatgrass extract, the wound is completely healed.
Case #5. Non-healing diabetic ulcer following trauma 4 months earlier. Wound almost healed after one week’s treatment with wheatgrass extract.
Fig. 1. Note surgical “cleansing” (debridement) of wound. This was followed by daily application of wheatgrass extract.
Fig. 2. One week later, the wound has almost completely healed. No infection present.
Fig. 3. Follow-up at three months. Wound completely healed. No evidence of ulcer recurrence.
Case #6. 55 y.o. male. Non-healing ulcer on the heel filled with blood clot is debrided after 2 weeks’ wheatgrass treatment.
Fig. 1. Diabetic forefoot ulcer present 4 YEARS in a 49 yo male. Unresponsive to orthodox treatment. Commenced daily application of Wheatgrass extract. Note hematoma (blood clot) bulging upwards from ulcer centre.
Fig. 2. Same patient after 2 weeks’application of wheatgrass extract. Note that the hematoma has burst, blood clot resolved and new skin is encroaching on the ulcer surface around its upper and central margins. The remaining ulcer surface is well vascularised and vital.
Fig. 3. After 4 weeks’ treatment, wound is healing well and has contracted significantly.
Fig. 4. After 6 weeks the wound continues to heal and is almost closed. Unfortunately at this stage the patient was lost to follow-up
Case #7. Skin graft over diabetic ulcer heals with wheatgrass
Patient’s testimonial:
I am a 52-year old Type 2 diabetic, with peripheral neuropathy and a rare bullosis diabeticorum complication. Related to this condition, I developed a lower leg ulcer, underwent wound debridement surgery on June 15th which left an open wound approximately 5 cm x 8 cm, and spent 10 days in hospital on IV antibiotics. From June 16th to August 16th the wound was treated with a negative pressure dressing / attached medical device (Renasys Go). In the 2 months of treatment with the negative pressure dressing / attached medical device the wound decreased in size to about 3 cm x 5 cm. In an effort to accelerate wound recovery, doctors recommended a followup skin graft operation. The skin graft operation was performed on August 16thand I spent 6 more days in hospital. About 90% of the skin graft ‘took’ but there remained some open areas and the graft / wound was slow to fully recover. (Fig. 1.)
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
I commenced use of wheatgrass extract on September 11th, 26 days after the skin graft operation, applying the extract a couple of times a days and using a simple combine dressing for wound protection. Within a couple of days of commencing use of wheatgrass, the wound had revascularised and the open areas were beginning to close. (Fig. 2). The open areas of the graft / wound closed by September 18th, just 7 days after commencing use of wheatgrass extract, and the health of the graft / wound continued to make outstanding progress. (Fig. 3.)
As a result, I was able to return to work on September 19th after over 3 months away due to this medical condition. I have found the use of wheatgrass spray to be complementary to the conventional wound debridement surgery, negative pressure dressing / medical device, and skin graft surgery. I am very happy with what I think were the accelerated graft / wound healing benefits resulting from my use of the wheatgrass. I will continue to use wheatgrass spray daily, both to help thicken / toughen up this graft / wound area and on my shins, ankles, and feet to help prevent leg ulcers. Thank you.
