1. n Elevate your legs
n Wear compression stockings
n Quit smoking or reduce the amount
you smoke
n Get good nutrition
Storing your wound-care supplies
Protect your bandages and any wound-care
ointments, salves and medicines you received
from your doctor or nurse. These supplies are
valuable and have been selected especially
for you and your type of wound.
Store your supplies in a clean, re-sealable bag.
Your nurse or pharmacist will tell you if there
are special storage instructions.
Warning signs
Check your wound carefully each day. If you OUR MISSION
notice any of the following warning signs, As people of Providence,
call your doctor immediately. we reveal God’s love for all,
n A change in the color of the especially the poor and vulnerable,
Wound Care:
drainage coming from your wound through our compassionate service.
n Increased
redness or warmth around
the wound OUR CORE VALUES
n Increased
pain or swelling around
Respect, Compassion, Justice,
Excellence, Stewardship
It’s more than just
the wound
n A fever higher than 100.5 F or chills a dressing change
n General weakness www.providence.org/oregon
n Confusion or difficulty thinking clearly
n A rapid heart beat
n Uncontrollable pain
Providence Health & Services, a not-for-profit health system,
is an equal opportunity organization in the provision of
health care services and employment opportunities.
120762 RP 2-12

2. You play an important role. Good nutrition Smoking and wound healing
You’re an important member of your wound- Good nutrition is necessary for healing. During If you smoke, it is important that you quit
care team. Your doctor, nurses and others will this time, your body needs extra fluids, protein, or at least cut back the amount you smoke.
do their best to help your wound heal quickly vitamins and minerals. Choose from these healthy
and completely. However, they need you to beverages and protein-rich, vitamin-packed Smoking causes blood vessels instantly to
take an active role in caring for your wound. foods to improve your healing process: constrict. When blood vessels constrict,
blood flow through your body slows down.
n Water
The healing process involves many factors. Because blood carries the oxygen and
We’ll teach you what it takes to promote n Fruit
juices (Limit these if you nutrients your body needs to heal a wound,
wound healing. It’s much more than changing have diabetes.) you want to increase, not decrease, your
a bandage. n Milk blood flow.
Much of the success of your wound healing n Decaffeinatedteas and coffee
depends on your level of commitment and (These should not be your Diabetes and wound healing
involvement. main source of fluid.) If you have diabetes, it is very important to
n Eggs control your blood sugar. Wounds are unlikely
The care plan to heal properly if blood sugar levels exceed
n Dairy foods (cheese, yogurt)
140 mg/dL. For best healing, blood sugar
Your nurse will work with you to create a n Meat (beef, pork, chicken, fish) levels should be 120 mg/dL or less.
care plan tailored to your wound. Your nurse
n Driedbeans, peas, nuts, seeds
will teach you how and when to change the Your doctor may order a test, hemoglobin
(including peanut butter)
dressing on your wound. If you can’t change A1c (HbA1c), which shows your average
the dressing yourself, you’ll need to identify n Soy or tofu products blood sugar levels over time. People with
someone – a family member, caregiver or n Whole grains (cereals, breads, diabetes should target their HbA1c levels
friend – who we can teach to do it for you. pasta, rice) for 7.0 or less.
n Leafygreen, orange or
yellow vegetables Helping wounds heal
n Citrus
fruits and juices, You can do a number of things to help your
strawberries, tomatoes wound heal faster and more completely.
Your nurse may ask you to:
Helpful hints for good nutrition n Reduce the amount of pressure
n Eat five or six small meals a day. against your wound. You may need
to use a special pad or a different
n Make each meal or snack count by
surface to sit or sleep on.
having protein in it.
n Wearshoes or special boots to
n Takea multivitamin every day.
prevent pressure on your feet
(Vitamin C and zinc are especially
important for wound healing.) n Avoidrubbing the wound across
surfaces when you reposition yourself,
n If
you don’t have much appetite, add a
such as when you turn over in bed
protein powder to any food you eat or
try a liquid nutritional supplement, such (continued on back)
as Ensure® or Carnation Instant Breakfast®.