A recent study by researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) and South Shore Hospital offers promising news for patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The study, published in ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, reveals that combining injectable insulin with oral metformin could significantly boost the healing process of these challenging wounds.
The research team discovered that this drug combination increases the concentration of metformin at the ulcer site, a finding that could lead to faster healing and reduced hospital stays for the 18.6 million people globally who suffer from DFUs, including 1.6 million in the United States.
Dr. Morteza Mahmoudi, an associate professor in the Department of Radiology and Precision Health Program at MSU’s College of Human Medicine, explained, “Our analysis of human exudates from diabetic foot ulcers revealed the presence of metformin, an observation not previously documented. This suggests that the combination of insulin and metformin may enhance wound healing indirectly by increasing metformin levels at the wound site.”
The study highlights a novel interaction between insulin and metformin that had not been previously explored in pharmacological research. Dr. Mahmoudi and co-researcher Dr. Lisa Gould, a plastic surgeon and wound care specialist at South Shore Hospital and clinical associate professor at Brown University, emphasized the potential implications of these findings for clinical practice.
“Our results could transform the management of chronic wounds,” said Mahmoudi. “The synergistic effects of insulin and metformin could prove beneficial for patients with DFUs. Additionally, this research underscores the importance for wound dressing developers to consider how their products interact with wound exudates, which can influence both safety and effectiveness.”
The study opens the door for further investigation into the optimal use of insulin and metformin for wound care and highlights the need for additional research into how wound treatments interact with the healing process.
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