CONTENTS
Quick Answer:
Blood clot therapy for diabetic wounds, also called autologous blood clot therapy, is a treatment that uses a small amount of your own blood to help a slow-healing wound. We turn the blood into a clot in the clinic and place it over the wound, where it acts as a natural covering filled with the cells and proteins your body uses to heal. It works alongside your regular wound care, such as cleaning and dressings. It is usually suitable for wounds that have been slow to heal, are not infected and have good blood flow.
If you have been caring for a diabetic wound for weeks and it still has not closed, it is natural to feel tired and worried. Some wounds take longer to heal, and sometimes they need a little extra help.
Blood clot therapy for diabetic wounds is one option our doctors may consider when a wound is slow to heal. It uses a small amount of your own blood to support the body’s natural healing.
In this article, we explain how blood clot therapy works, who it may suit and what to expect during treatment.
What Is Blood Clot Therapy?
Blood clot therapy is a wound treatment that uses your own blood. It is also known as autologous blood clot therapy. “Autologous” simply means it comes from your own body.
During treatment, we take a small blood sample, turn it into a clot and place it over the wound to help it heal.
The clot contains blood cells, platelets, plasma and a protein called fibrin. Fibrin forms a fine mesh that holds the clot together. The platelets and white blood cells carry proteins that help the body repair itself.
Blood clot therapy has been studied in clinical trials, including a randomised controlled trial in people with long-lasting diabetic foot ulcers.
Why Do Diabetic Wounds Heal Slowly?
A wound normally heals in four stages. First a clot forms. Then the area becomes inflamed while the body clears germs. Next, new tissue grows, and finally the new skin gets stronger.
Diabetes can slow this down. Nerve damage, poor blood flow and high blood sugar can keep a wound stuck at the inflamed stage, so it stops getting better.
How Does Blood Clot Therapy Help a Wound Heal?
Blood clot therapy aims to help a stuck wound start healing again. Placing a new clot on a clean wound takes it back to the first stage of healing, so the process can begin again.
The clot also acts as a protective cover. Its mesh gives new cells something to grow on, and over the next few days it releases proteins that support repair.
Results are different for everyone. How well a wound responds depends on its size and depth, your blood flow, your blood sugar and your general health.
Benefits of Blood Clot Therapy
- Uses your own blood. The clot carries your body’s own healing cells and proteins, so the treatment works with the way your body naturally heals.
- Performed in the clinic. The treatment is done during a clinic visit, and you can go home the same day.
- Minimal discomfort. Most people only feel a small needle prick when the blood sample is taken.
- Tailored to your wound. Each clot is shaped to fit the size and shape of your wound.
- Complements your wound care plan. It works alongside the other care your wound needs, such as cleaning, dressings and blood sugar control.
Who May Be Suitable for Blood Clot Therapy?
Blood clot therapy is used for long-lasting skin wounds that produce some fluid and are slow to heal. These include diabetic foot ulcers, pressure sores and leg ulcers.
For a diabetic foot ulcer, our doctor may suggest it when the wound has not improved enough with regular wound care, is not infected and has good blood flow. We will check all of this before recommending treatment.
What Happens Before Treatment?
Your first visit starts with a conversation about your wound. Our doctor will ask how it started, how it has changed and what you have tried so far. We will also go through your diabetes, your medicines and your blood sugar.
Next, we examine and measure the wound and look for signs of infection. We also check the feeling in your foot and how well blood is reaching it, usually by feeling the pulses or using a small handheld device. Sometimes we may suggest a wound swab, blood tests or an X-ray.
We will then explain whether blood clot therapy suits your wound now, or whether something else should come first. If your wound is ready, the first treatment can sometimes be done on the same day.
What Happens During a Blood Clot Therapy Session?
A session usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Our doctor starts by cleaning the wound and gently removing any dead tissue, so the clot can sit on healthy tissue.
Next, we take a small blood sample from your arm, up to about 20 ml, much like a routine blood test. The blood is mixed with a clotting agent in a single-use kit, and after a few minutes it forms a soft clot. Our doctor shapes the clot to fit your wound, places it over the wound and covers it with a dressing.
The clot stays on for about a week. At your next visit, we check how the wound is doing and, if suitable, apply a fresh clot.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Treatment is usually once a week, but there is no set number of sessions. Every wound heals at its own pace, depending on its size and depth, your blood flow, any infection and your blood sugar. We measure your wound at each visit and adjust the plan with you as it heals.
Is Blood Clot Therapy Safe?
Blood clot therapy is generally considered a low-risk treatment when it is used on a suitable wound and done by a trained doctor. As with any treatment, there are a few things to be aware of.
There is a small chance of irritation or infection at the wound, which is why we check it at every visit. You may also have a small bruise where the blood was taken. If your wound becomes more painful after treatment, please let us know, as our doctor may need to remove the clot and check the wound.
Some parts of the kit are sterilised with a gas called ethylene oxide, which can cause an allergic reaction in a small number of people. Do tell us before treatment if you have reacted to sterilised medical products before.
Caring for Your Wound Between Sessions
What you do at home between visits matters too. Keep the dressing clean and dry, and leave it in place unless we advise otherwise. Rest your foot when you can and wear the shoe or boot we recommend, even for short walks. Avoid going barefoot, even at home.
Keep taking your diabetes medicines as prescribed and check your blood sugar regularly. Balanced meals with enough protein, such as fish, eggs, tofu or lean meat, help your body repair the wound. If you smoke, stopping helps more blood reach your feet.
Contact us early if your wound becomes more painful, red or smelly, or starts to leak.
Where Blood Clot Therapy Fits in Your Wound Care Plan
Blood clot therapy is one part of your care, not the whole of it. At DR+, diabetic wound care starts with a plan for your wound. This may include cleaning, removing dead tissue, dressings, infection treatment and advice on resting your foot. Blood clot therapy can be added when the wound needs more support.
Looking after your diabetes matters just as much. Our chronic disease management helps keep your blood sugar, medicines and diet on track while your wound heals. If we see signs of poor circulation, deep infection or gangrene, we will refer you promptly to a hospital or vascular team.
A Doctor’s Perspective
| Patients often ask us if blood clot therapy is just a stronger dressing. We find it more helpful to think of it as giving a stuck wound a fresh start. Many long-lasting diabetic wounds have been stuck at the inflamed stage for weeks. A new clot on a clean wound brings it back to the point where healing normally begins.
The patients who tend to do best are those whose wound is well prepared and whose other health issues are under control. For example, an ulcer under the ball of the foot is usually caused by pressure. If the patient keeps walking on it, it will struggle to heal with any treatment, so resting the foot matters just as much as the clot. A wound on the toes of a cool foot with weak pulses is different. It usually points to poor blood flow, so we check and treat the circulation first. Our advice is simple. Blood clot therapy works best as part of a complete plan, and the earlier a slow-healing wound is checked, the more options you have. |
Conclusion
A wound that will not heal can be tiring and worrying. Blood clot therapy is one option that may help a slow-healing diabetic wound get back on track, as part of a complete wound care plan.
Not every wound is suitable, so the first step is a proper check. If you would like to know whether blood clot therapy could help your wound, our doctors are here to help. No referral is needed. Book a consultation with our DR+ team to find out more.
Read More: Diabetic Wound Care
Frequently Asked Questions
What is blood clot therapy for diabetic wounds?
Blood clot therapy, also called autologous blood clot therapy, is a wound treatment that uses a small amount of your own blood. The blood is made into a clot and placed over the wound, where it acts as a protective cover that supports healing. It is used alongside regular wound care for long-lasting diabetic wounds that are slow to heal.
Is blood clot therapy painful?
Most people only feel a small needle prick when the blood sample is taken, much like a routine blood test. Placing the clot on the wound is usually not painful. Cleaning the wound beforehand may feel a little uncomfortable, and local numbing can be used if needed.
How many sessions of blood clot therapy are needed?
Treatment is usually once a week, with the clot left on for about a week each time. There is no set number of sessions, as every wound heals at its own pace. Our doctor checks your wound at each visit and adjusts the plan with you.
Is blood clot therapy suitable for everyone?
Not every wound is suitable for blood clot therapy. If your wound is infected, the infection needs to be treated first. The treatment also needs blood to reach the wound, so if your foot has very poor circulation, we will check and treat the blood flow first. Wounds with gangrene or a deep bone infection need hospital care. Our doctor will always check your wound before suggesting any treatment.
Can blood clot therapy be done at a GP clinic in Singapore?
Yes, in suitable cases. Blood clot therapy is an outpatient treatment, so it can be done at a GP clinic and you can go home the same day. At DR+, a doctor first checks your wound, blood flow and any infection to see if it is suitable. No referral is needed to see a DR+ doctor.
About DR+ Medical & Paincare
DR+ Medical & Paincare is a network of family medicine and pain care clinics in Singapore, part of Singapore Paincare Holdings. DR+ clinics provide GP services, chronic disease management, health screening and pain care, with doctors trained in the Painostic® approach.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment tailored to your individual condition.
