Woodlands Online

Diabetes Research Moving at an Ac-cell-erated Pace

American Diabetes Association's 'Step Out, Walk to Fight Diabetes' Fundraiser aids in technological breakthroughs for Diabetes.

An estimated 15% of patients with Diabetes will develop a foot ulcer at some point in time, making them 30 to 40 times more likely to under amputation due to a non-healing foot ulcer. But due to a new technological innovation, limbs are being saved. Celleration, Inc. in Eden Prairie, MN, has developed the MIST Therapy system, a non-contact ultrasound device, for the treatment of recalcitrant Diabetes foot ulcers. The Celleration MIST Therapy system promotes wound healing through cellular stimulation while removing bacteria from the wound allowing clinicians to heal wounds faster. The equipment delivers a painless non-contact ultrasound applying 40 kilohertz using a saline mist process.

In a randomized, double blind, sham-controlled, multi-center clinical trial in diabetic foot ulcers, the outcomes observed in the MIST Therapy treatment group demonstrated a statistically significant wound closure rate of nearly three times the outcomes observed in the sham control group within a twelve-week period. The results have been so astounding in demonstrations across the country that when demonstrated at Ben Taub Hospital last year on the most severe diabetic cases, surgeries were being cancelled. But technology research and equipment comes at a high price, and research funding is down from past years.

It’s only fitting that the American Diabetes Association’s annual fundraiser is a ‘walk,’ because in the most severe cases, Diabetes patients lose their feet and are unable to do so. On Saturday, November 21, Montgomery County will have the opportunity to take some steps to support the research for Diabetes by participating in “Step Out, Walk to Fight Diabetes.” The event will be held at Northshore Park at 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive in The Woodlands. Events include a 3K walk and a 5K run. Check-in is 7:30 am; the 5K run starts at 8:00 am, and the 3K walk begins at 9am. Participants are encouraged to contact employers about matching their donation, thus doubling their fundraising dollars. For more information call 1+888-DIABETES. Register on line at www.diabetes.org/stepout Walk on Nov. 21st so that those with Diabetes can continue to stand on their own two feet.

Celleration is a registered trademark of Celleration. Excerpts of this article taken from the internet from Ostomy/Wound Management 2005.5(8):24-39, and www.celleration.com