DIABETIC FOOT ULCER MANAGED WITH INDIVIDUALIZED HOMOEOPATHY- A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a serious complication of diabetes that is associated with severe morbidity and high treatment costs. A diabetic foot ulcer is a common sign of uncontrolled blood sugar levels. This leads to the formation of blisters on the foot (called diabetic foot condition). When a blister ruptures, it oozes a foul-smelling discharge that is highly susceptible to infection. The patient is unable to feel pain because of poor sensory stimulation in the foot ulcers. As a result, timely assessment of diabetic foot ulcers and adherence to a proper therapeutic regimen are essential. When treating such diseases, the homoeopathic physician frequently encounters difficulties when the most indicated remedy ceases to act after an initial amelioration.

A 48-year-old patient presented with an ulcer on the medial aspect of his left lower extremity that had been present for three months. The discharge was initially watery, then purulent pus-like, with haemorrhage after scratching. Based on the concept of individualisation and totality of symptoms, the patient was prescribed Lycopodium Clavatum and as an add-on treatment modality, Calendula Officinalis mother tincture was prescribed as local application of foot ulcer, and the patient showed marked improvement after a three-month follow-up. This case was managed with homoeopathic medicines, and significant relief was observed overall, as confirmed by appropriate investigations.