Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

A picture of the soles of a pair of resting feet in a dark background.

What is a Diabetic Foot Ulcer?

A diabetic foot ulcer is an open wound most commonly found on the sole of the foot or at pressure points.

Diabetes can affect blood flow and nerve function. Reduced sensation means small injuries may go unnoticed. At the same time, the reduced blood flow can delay healing. This means the ulcers/wounds can take longer to heal become bigger or infected. All of these factors can make diabetic foot ulcers difficult to manage.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Interior of a hypoxic oxygen therapy chamber with colorful seating and monitors.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing high-concentration oxygen through a mask in a pressurised chamber.

This allows more oxygen to dissolve into the bloodstream and reach tissues with reduced blood supply.

Oxygen plays a key role in many normal processes within the body, including healing and recovery. By increasing oxygen availability, HBOT can support tissue repair, collagen production, new blood vessel formation, and the body’s immune responses that help manage infection.

By reducing substances in the body that drive inflammation (inflammatory cytokines), HBOT may also help to ease swelling and discomfort.

HBOT is always used in addition to standard medical treatment, not as a replacement.

A woman sitting on a yellow medical chair with a mask connected to breathing apparatus in a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, reading a book.

Close-up of a person's foot resting, blurred background with soft lighting.

When HBOT May Be Considered for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

HBOT is sometimes considered as part of a wider care plan for people with diabetic foot ulcers, particularly where:

The ulcer is slow to heal despite appropriate standard care.
There is reduced tissue oxygenation.
There is concern about complications, including risk of amputation.

HBOT may support the body’s natural repair processes.

Use of HBOT for DFU’s

Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most strongly supported indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. HBOT is recognised internationally as an adjunctive treatment for diabetic foot ulcers that have not responded to standard wound care, particularly Wagner Grade 3 or higher ulcers and ulcers in individuals with reduced blood supply to the lower limb.

This indication is included in the approved indication lists of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), and the European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine (ECHM), and is reimbursed by Medicare in the United States for diabetic foot ulcers that have failed standard wound therapy. In Ireland, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is recognised by major private health insurers for selected indications, including diabetic foot ulcers.

https://www.uhms.org/resources/featured-resources/hbo-indications.html

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What to Expect at OxyGeneration

OxyGeneration provides HBOT in a calm clinical environment, delivered by a trained and experienced team.

Some clients are referred by a healthcare professional, but self-referral is also welcomed. All clients complete a screening questionnaire to check suitability. In some situations, we may ask clients to confirm suitability with their GP or medical specialist before proceeding.

For DFU, a course of 20–40 sessions is typical, although the number recommended will depend on individual circumstances and response to treatment. Treatment of DFUs is always undertaken alongside, not in place of, standard wound care, including appropriate debridement, infection management, offloading, glycaemic control, and assessment of vascular supply. We can work the client’s existing medical team to deliver the hyperbaric component of an integrated treatment plan.

OxyGeneration does not provide emergency medical treatment. We do not diagnose or manage medical conditions, and HBOT is not a replacement for standard medical care. Clients remain under the supervision of their GP or consultant for the management of their condition. As with all treatments, outcomes can vary from person to person.

If you would like to find out more about HBOT and whether it might be appropriate for you, please contact our team for more information.

Modern office lounge with colorful chairs around small tables, a blue oxygen treatment chamber, ceiling lights, potted plants, and a kitchenette area in the background.

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Important Information

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not suitable for everyone.

Please visit our Suitability page for further information.

Testimonial

“I firmly believe for diabetic non-healing wounds, hyperbaric oxygenation could turn healing around for diabetics around the world. Hyperbaric oxygenation (23 sessions) has prevented me from requiring amputation surgery that was recommended to me as my only option.”

— Kathleen Costello, Client (40-session recommended cycle)