Laboratory tests for patients with diabetic foot ulcers are generally divided into two groups of diabetes-related tests and wound-related tests:
1-Diabetes-related variation and their possible complications that can be seen in laboratory tests include:
- Blood cell and platelet count (CBC)
- Fasting Blood Sugar level (FBS) and chronic blood sugar control(Hgb A1C)
- Blood Urine Nitrogen and Creatinine (BUN / Cr) are related to kidney function
- Blood salts Changes (Na / K) caused by kidney damage due to diabetes and insulin use
- Urine Analysis (UA) to better assess kidney function
- It is helpful to find the amount of vitamin D, calcium, as well as thyroid tests at the beginning of treatment, because if there is some changes, they can interfere with the treatment and healing process.
2-Wound-related disorders and infections. In problem wound cases, due to the high chance of infection in the diabetic person, it is necessary to test the markers of infection and inflammation in the blood. These markers include:
- White blood cell count (in CBC)
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP), which is made in the liver when there is inflammation anywhere in body.
- Liver Function Tests (LFT) due to the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that have less renal excretion.
- Blood phosphorus, calcium and albumin, urine culture and antibiogram in cases where there is a possibility of infection in the blood (Sepsis).
Repeating the above tests can indicate the success or failure of treatment, so it is recommended to perform these tests at regular intervals based on the condition of the wound.
- Sampling and culture of wound secretions.
The choice of appropriate antibiotic is usually based on clinical evidence. However, in order to select a more suitable antibiotic or to ensure the absence of microbial resistance, culture is also performed from the wound secretions.