Rapid healing of diabetic foot ulcers with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion

Two patients with inadequately controlled diabetes mellitus had chronic foot ulcers that were refractory to repeated attempts with conventional treatment. In both patients, complete healing of the foot lesions occurred six to eight weeks after continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion was instituted and blood sugar levels had become normal. This suggests that good control of diabetes, as obtainable with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, stimulates healing of foot ulcers. Possible reasons for this finding are reviewed.