American Diabetes Month spotlights foot ulcers, nerve damage and eye disease

American Diabetes Month is drawing attention to diabetes complications that can affect circulation, nerves and vision, with hyperbaric oxygen therapy used as an adjunct for certain diabetic foot ulcers. The release also points to ongoing research into whether HBOT may help with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetic eye disease.

Why it matters: - Diabetes complications can develop slowly, so early medical care can help protect tissue health and reduce the risk of serious wounds, nerve damage and vision loss. - Diabetic foot ulcers can lead to infection, hospitalization or amputation if they are not treated promptly. - HBOT has an established adjunctive role for certain diabetic foot ulcers, while its use for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetic eye disease remains under study.

What happened: - American Diabetes Month is being used to highlight diabetic complications and the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in foot ulcer care. - Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery Inc. said the focus of its San Rafael, California, outpatient center includes diabetic foot ulcers, diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetic eye disease. - The release was dated Nov. 2, 2026.

The details: - High blood glucose can damage blood vessels and nerves over time, reducing circulation and sensation in the feet. - A cut, blister or pressure injury can go unnoticed and develop into a diabetic foot ulcer. - Peripheral vascular disease can further restrict blood flow to the legs and feet, making wound healing more difficult. - Standard diabetes care includes blood glucose management, foot checks, wound care and circulation assessment. - HBOT involves breathing 100% medical-grade oxygen inside a slightly pressurized chamber. - The therapy is described as increasing oxygen delivery to tissues and supporting collagen formation, new blood vessel growth and the body’s response to infection. - The release says HBOT can also increase stem cell production. - HBOT is used alongside standard wound care, not as a replacement for debridement, pressure relief, infection management, blood flow assessment or diabetes treatment. - A qualified medical team decides whether HBOT is appropriate based on the wound and the patient’s overall condition. - Diabetic foot ulcers commonly form because of reduced sensation, pressure, poor circulation or a combination of those factors. - Care for diabetic foot ulcers can include wound assessment, removal of damaged tissue, pressure relief, infection treatment and circulation evaluation. - Persistent or complex wounds should be assessed by qualified clinicians to determine treatment options.

Between the lines: - The release is framing HBOT as part of a broader diabetes-care pathway rather than a standalone solution. - The strongest claims in the piece are tied to diabetic foot ulcers, where HBOT is described as an adjunctive treatment option under established criteria. - The language around nerve and eye disease is more cautious because the release presents those uses as areas of research, not settled standard care. - The release also blends clinical information with marketing from a specialized HBOT center, so the practical takeaway is to separate established wound-care uses from investigational applications.

What the research says: - A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis in Medicine examined 14 randomized controlled trials with 1,323 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. - The review reported improved treatment response and better motor and sensory nerve conduction measures in patients receiving HBOT alongside standard treatment. - A study in Journal Français d’Ophtalmologie examined patients with diabetic retinopathy who received HBOT during treatment for diabetic foot ulcers. - That study used 30 sessions of 90 minutes at 2.5 ATA and reported stable or improved retinal changes plus reduced central macular thickness versus control. - A prospective randomized controlled study in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, followed 38 patients with nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers who were poor candidates for vascular surgery. - In that study, one group received standard wound care and another received standard care plus HBOT at 2.5 ATA for 120 minutes per session, five days a week for four weeks. - Researchers reported complete wound closure in five patients who received HBOT, along with improvements in inflammation markers, blood flow, quality of life and hemoglobin A1c. - The release links to three case-study sources: the wound-healing study, a PubMed entry on diabetic foot ulcers, and a PubMed entry on diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

What's next: - Regular foot examinations and scheduled eye screenings remain key for catching complications early. - Patients with ongoing wounds are expected to continue being evaluated for circulation problems, infection and whether HBOT fits their overall treatment plan. - Research into HBOT for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetic eye disease is expected to continue. - The release says early recognition and evidence-based care are central to reducing the impact of diabetes complications.

The bottom line: - HBOT is presented as a supported add-on for some diabetic foot ulcers, while its broader role in nerve and eye complications is still being studied.