Glucose Metabolism & Wounds

Abnormal metabolism of glucose has quickly become one of the most complex health challenges of the 21st century. This occurs in which the body does not effectively use sugar and wound healing can be slowed. Why?

Blood Glucose Levels

It all starts here. An elevated blood sugar level stiffens the arteries and causes narrowing of the blood vessels. The effects of this are far-reaching which include the origin of wounds as well as risk factors to proper wound healing.

Poor Circulation

Narrowed blood vessels lead to decreased blood flow and oxygen to a wound. An elevated blood sugar level decreases the function of red blood cells that carry nutrients to the tissue. This lowers the efficiency of the white blood cells that fight infection. Without sufficient nutrients and oxygen, a wound heals slowly.

Mechanisms of high blood glucose in Neuropathy

When blood glucose levels are uncontrolled, nerves in the body are affected and affected individuals can develop a loss of sensation. When there is a loss of sensation, affected individuals cannot feel a developing blister, infection or surgical wound problem. Because they may not be able to feel a change in the status of a wound or the actual wound, the severity can progress and there may be complications with healing.

Immune System Deficiency

Inability of uptake of glucose by cells lowers the efficiency of the immune system, the body’s defense system against infection. A high glucose level causes the immune cells to function ineffectively, which raises the risk of infection for the affected individuals. Studies indicate that particular enzymes and hormones that the body produces in response to an elevated blood sugar are responsible for negatively impacting the immune system.

Infection

With a poorly functioning immune system, individuals with abnormal glucose metabolism are at a higher risk for developing an infection. Infection raises many health concerns and also slows the overall healing process. Left untreated, infection may contribute to the risk of developing gangrene, sepsis or a bone infection.

GTF and wound healing

Chromium is one of the most important trace element in wound healing as it enhances protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Chromium, cofactor with insulin, act as a carrier transporter of the Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) in our body cells. GTF is a compound consisting of dietary trivalent chromium, vitamin and amino acids which enhances the insulin signalling and potentiating the action of insulin, leading to uptake of glucose into cells by opening the gate of cell membrane. Hence, glucose is converted into energy for conducting cellular functions,  blood glucose are then regulated and increases cell metabolism. The increase of cell metabolism stimulates cell growth from proper blood circulation by giving sufficient oxygen and nutrient supply that speeds up wound recovery. Sufficient dietary chromium intake is important for maintaining our blood glucose level in normal range on daily basis. The recommended intake for dietary chromium in daily basis is about 50 – 200 μg. Trivalent chromium, found in most foods and nutrient supplements, is an essential nutrient with very low toxicity.

The GTF has the best combination of dietary trivalent chromium with lactoferrin that you hardly obtain from any food sources, which is closely identical to lactoferrin chromium in mother’s breast milk, thus making this composition easier to be absorbed and utilized by the cells in our body. Lactoferrin in GTF has shown to improves wound healing with restoration of normal dermal architecture, enhances body immune system and protecting body cells from being damaged.