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A new treatment for the troublesome diabetic foot is being tested in Las Vegas, Nevada. The treatment is a topical gel that stimulates the growth of new blood vessels and tissue. The gel is called Excellarate.

People with diabetes are prone to developing foot ulcers. Due to the loss of sensation that often accompanies diabetes, the ulcer or sore may get bad before it is even noticed. The poor circulation that diabetics often experience makes the healing process slow. Ulcers that fail to heal leave the wound susceptible to infection.

In cases where the infection becomes severe, the foot has to be amputated. Up to twenty-five percent of diabetics who develop foot ulcers will have to have the foot amputated. Therefore, regular inspections of the foot to check for sores are extremely important for diabetics. If a sore is noticed and treated early, it is less likely to cause significant problems than those sore that go unnoticed and become infected.

Excellarate is on clinical trial to test the effectiveness it has in promoting healing for diabetics with foot sores. Excellarate is made from bovine DNA attached to a form of the flu virus. Bovine refers to originating from cows or oxen. Excellarate is also called GAM501. GAM stands for gene activated matrix. The DNA in the medication activates cell growth which would aid the healing process for diabetics with foot ulcers.

It could take four more years for clinical trials to be complete. Diabetic patients who are at least eighteen years old and have had a foot ulcer for six weeks or more may be eligible to participate in the clinical trial. Participants in the clinical study must also be taking insulin or other medication to control their diabetes and be willing to wear a protective shoe during the clinical trial.

Source: Foot Care Advice