Not always. Many diabetic foot ulcers respond well to non-surgical treatment including optimal wound dressings, offloading pressure from the affected area, systemic and local infection control, and tight blood sugar management. However, wounds that involve deep infection, exposed bone or tendon, inadequate blood supply, or significant tissue loss require surgical intervention. Surgical debridement removes infected and non-viable tissue, and reconstructive procedures including skin grafting and flap surgery provide durable wound coverage when conservative measures are insufficient. At Galwa Care Hospital, the most appropriate treatment pathway is determined individually for every patient.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, or NPWT, is a technique that applies controlled suction to a wound through a sealed dressing connected to a vacuum pump. In diabetic foot wounds, NPWT reduces wound oedema, promotes the formation of healthy granulation tissue that is necessary for wound closure, manages wound moisture, and reduces the bacterial load in the wound. It is particularly useful in preparing a complex diabetic foot wound for subsequent skin grafting or flap surgery, and is often used as a bridge treatment between initial debridement and definitive wound closure.

Yes, many diabetic foot complications can be prevented or significantly delayed through regular specialist review, daily foot inspection, appropriate footwear, tight blood sugar control, and prompt treatment of even minor foot injuries before they escalate. However, once a patient has experienced a diabetic foot ulcer, the risk of recurrence is significant, and ongoing engagement with a specialist care programme is the most effective protection against future episodes. At Galwa Care Hospital, every diabetic foot patient receives education and a structured preventive plan alongside treatment of their current wound.

Not in every case, but specialist reconstructive management significantly improves the chances of limb salvage compared to non-specialist care. Early specialist involvement, aggressive wound management, vascular optimisation, and reconstructive surgery together give the limb the best possible chance. At Galwa Care Hospital, limb preservation is always the primary goal, and the multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to achieve it whenever it is medically achievable and in the patient's best interest. When amputation is ultimately unavoidable, careful planning ensures the lowest level of amputation possible, preserving as much function as the situation allows.