A study of effectiveness of topical insulin on healing of diabetic ulcers at tertiary health care centre: a cross sectional study from Puducherry

ABSTRACT

Background: Insulin being a growth factor was proved to stimulate angiogenesis, collagen formation, matrix formation and granulation tissue proliferation in several preclinical studies. The objective was to study effectiveness of topical insulin on healing of diabetic ulcers at tertiary health care centre.Methods: This was a cross sectional study carried out in the Department of surgery of a tertiary health care centre during August 2018 to August 2019 so during this period there were 60 patients. Group A was given topical insulin application. Group B was given saline application. The statistical analysis was done by using SPSS 24.0 version and un-paired t-test and chi-square tests are applied as test of significance.Results: Average time required for granulation tissue to appear (mean±SD) was significantly less in group A as compared to Group B (p<0.001, df=58, t=5.87); Average surface area of wound (mm2) at day 6th day was significantly less in group A (p<0.05, df=58,t=3.98); average depth of the wounds (mm) at day 6th day was significantly less in Group A as compared to in Group B (p<0.001, df=58, t=4.92).Conclusions: The topical application of insulin is significantly associated with fastening of wound healing in the diabetic ulcer.