Senior Health: Diabetes and Wound Healing with Martha Kelso

34.2 million Americans have diabetes, and 88 million people in the United States have prediabetes. Diabetes often goes unrecognized, and people can live and have diabetes with little to no symptoms. When someone’s vision or kidneys fail, that’s when people finally understand that they have the condition. Martha Kelso, founder and CEO of Wound Care Plus, LLC., jumps into how diabetes can affect wounds. Amputation is fifteen to forty times greater for people with diabetes. Plus, people who have diabetes often end up with strokes, heart attacks, and other significant issues. Tune in as we talk about the importance of glycemic control, the foods to avoid, and different ways seniors can positively adjust their lifestyles.

In This Episode:

  • [03:30] Meet Martha Kelso. Martha explains why diabetes is such a killer.
  • [07:00] How diabetes can affect wounds.
  • [10:35] About glycemic control and the foods that you should avoid.
  • [16:30] Why seniors may be at risk for developing diabetes.
  • [21:30] The correlation between poor glycemic control and cognition.
  • [23:55] The types of exercise to do

Key Takeaways:

  • The symptoms of diabetes are easily brushed off as something else; that’s why it goes undiagnosed for so long.
  • Unmanaged diabetes will negatively impact the microvascular blood flow.
  • Managing blood sugars is amazing because it helps ward off issues; however, it still doesn’t protect you from the long-term devasting effects of diabetes.
  • Managing blood sugars is imperative so our cells can be healthy and use glucose as energy for our body.
  • If you’re diabetic, follow the diet prescribed by your doctor and learn how to count carbs.

Meet Martha Kelso

Martha Kelso is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wound Care Plus, LLC, the largest mobile wound care provider in the Midwest. 

With over 20 years’ experience in advanced wound care, Kelso is a visionary and entrepreneur in the field of mobile medicine. “We identified a pressing need for access to high quality wound management across the entire continuum of care.” This is what motivated her to establish Wound Care Plus. Their skilled and caring wound specialists use innovative products and cutting-edge technology to treat individuals with wound or skin issues at almost any site of care. They pride themselves on bringing advanced wound care and clinical excellence, supported by evidenced-based medicine, to clients and caregivers alike. 

And they don’t stop at wound prevention and treatment. Kelso and her team have a relentless passion for education as a vehicle to elevate the art and science of wound healing. They have educated thousands of health care professionals and caregivers, not just on the practicalities of wound care, but also on federal regulations and national guidelines. “This pragmatic approach to wound care education paired with our holistic treatment methodology has positioned Wound Care Plus as an industry leader.” 

Kelso is a published author and a member of several national advisory boards. She is frequently called upon as a legal expert witness and has been a featured speaker at more than 300 educational events. She is currently the Principal Investigator for a CMS funded Clinical Research study on the efficacy of Platelet Rich Plasma. Kelso is widely recognized as being a pioneer in the advanced wound care arena who works tirelessly to shape the future landscape of health care.

Resources:

Wound Care Plus: https://mywoundcareplus.com
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov
ADA: https://www.diabetes.org
Wound Care Plus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woundcareplus/
Wound Care Plus on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mywoundcareplus
Wound Care Plus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wound-care-plus-llc/
Wound Care Plus on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woundcareplusllc/