LUCKNOW, Nov. 13 -- A novel antimicrobial herbal wound dressing could significantly improve healing outcomes in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), a condition that remains one of the most serious complications of diabetes worldwide, suggests a clinical study by doctors at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), published in the Journal of Wound Care. At least 75% of these amputations are thought to be preventable, as they often result from infected foot ulcers that could have been treated with early intervention, according to experts. India is projected to have 109 million diabetes patients by 2025, going by WHO figures. Besides, 1 million Indians die due to diabetes related causes every year, according to Prof Gyan Chand of SGPGIMS. India has 4.5 million cases of diabetic foot every year; it is estimated that every 30 seconds a leg is lost due to diabetes somewhere in the world, as per Gyanchand. The study, led by Prof Gyan Chand of endocrine surgery department of SGPGIMS, enrolled 100 patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Half were treated with the new antimicrobial herbal wound dressing, while the rest received the standard silver-based dressing. Over the study period, researchers measured wound closure rates, infection control and overall healing progression. Doctors of PGI conducted a prospective randomised study comparing the safety and efficacy of antimicrobial herbal wound dressing with traditional silver dressing, a commonly used standard dressing for diabetic foot management. The study said that antimicrobial herbal wound dressing is both safe and more effective than standard dressings in managing diabetic foot ulcers, offering new hope for better wound outcomes in diabetic patients. At PGI alone, 150-200 new diabetic patients report for treatment per week, and around 700 old patients also come for followup, and around 10% of them develop diabetic foot. Results showed notable improvement in wound healing among patients using antimicrobial herbal wound dressing. Complete wound healing occurred in 28% (14 out of 50) of antimicrobial herbal wound dressing treated patients compared to 22% (11 out of 50) in the standard dressing group. The average wound area healed was 60.78% in the antimicrobial herbal wound dressing group, nearly double that of the standard group (31.76%). The daily healing rate was also faster with antimicrobial herbal wound dressing (2.16% per day) versus 1.13% per day in the control group. The prevalence of diabetes in Lucknow has reached worrying levels, with 13.8% of adults found to be affected, according to recent studies conducted between 2017 and 2020. Health experts attribute this growing burden to sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets and rising obesity among city dwellers. Alarmingly, nearly 23% of diabetes cases were newly diagnosed during the studies, indicating a large population unaware of their condition. Head of department, endocrine surgery, Prof Gaurav Agarwal said: "Urbanisation and stress are accelerating the onset of diabetes even among younger populations. Early screening and lifestyle changes are essential."...