One of the most common diabetes complications is chronic foot ulcers, which are caused by the effects of high blood sugar levels. This causes lesser blood flow to the wound and the tissue around the wound will have lower amount of oxygen. This results in cells responsible for healing the wound cannot function normally in tissue formation. The wound then heals slowly and may cause antibiotics resistance, leading to amputation of the leg.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a therapy in which the patient breathes 100 percent pure oxygen while in an atmospheric chamber with an internal pressure greater than 1 atmosphere (atm) that looks like a large glass tube. Breathing in this way gives opportunity for the body to receive more oxygen than breathing in pure oxygen at a normal environment by many folds. Therefore, HBOT has the effect of enhancing wound healing, especially chronic wounds caused by diabetes.

The positive effect of HBOT is to reduce disability and dismemberment, in cases where doctors need to do surgery to remove that part of the organ, such as amputating the fingers or toes. Various chronic lesions caused by lack of oxygen heal faster with HBOT, thereby reducing the duration of treatment, enable ability to carry out normal daily activities faster, and reduce costs.

In addition to treating chronic wounds from diabetes, HBOT also has indications as currently recognized by the American Society of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine (UHMS) as follows:

1. Carbon monoxide poisoning & Smoke choking

2. Infection of tissues from anaerobic bacteria. (Clostridial Gas Gangrene)

3. Tissue injury due to crushing (Crush Injury: Compartment Syndrome, Acute Traumatic Ischemia)

4. Chronic ulcers caused by diabetes, pressure ulcers, ulcers due to poor venous or arterial circulation (Ischemic ulcers).

5. Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection

6. Chronic infection of periosteum (Refractory Osteomyelitis)

7. Compromised Skin Graft or Flap

8. Radiation Injury

8.1 Bones and tissues’ death due to radiation exposure (Osteoradionecrosis/ORN)

8.2 Soft Tissue Radionecrosis / STRN

8.3 Cavities due to radiation caries

9. Thermal burn

10. Intracranial Abscess