A chance encounter with a medical student led to one man with diabetes having innovative treatment which prevented the partial amputation of his legs.
Barry Mayled developed severe foot ulcers as a result of his type 2 diabetes, which got so bad that surgeons were at the point of amputating parts of his legs.
However, the 74-year-old said “a bit of luck” came when a student who was part of the team discussing his care suggested microwave technology.
It led to Barry undergoing nine months of the treatment, which uses low energy doses of microwaves to stimulate the immune system.
- Innovative wound dressing a promising alternative to antibiotics
- Cinnamon supplements reduce blood glucose in people with prediabetes
- Late dinner habits could raise stroke risk by 28%
Following the Swift therapy, which has been developed by the firm Emblation, Barry is now “totally clear” and has been able to continue working.
Barry, an architect and gardener from Wales, first noticed a problem when a bruise on one foot got steadily worse, appeared to burst and spread to the other foot.
He was diagnosed with a foot ulcer, a known complication of diabetes because of the reduced blood flow and nerve damage which can affect the lower limbs.
Barry explained: “This went on for about two years, trying to clean this ulcer up by which time COVID came along. We were left a little bit high and dry and it transpired this was getting worse and worse to the point where I could hardly walk.
“At one point I was in hospital surrounded by medics and things were so bad that the main surgeon was just shaking his head. There was pretty much nothing left to try and it was a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ my legs would have to be amputated below the knees.
“The only bit of luck I had was in this grouping around me which was made up of wound clinic podiatrists, there was a student just observing.
“She said what about microwave treatment and they turned around and virtually silenced her with their eyes because the NHS do not use microwave treatment to treat what turned out to be a diabetic ulcer with underlying verruca tissue.”
Tracey Davies, of Toetal Footcare in Cardiff, treated Barry with the Swift microwave technology, saying she was “amazed” by the “remarkable turnaround”.
- Scientists develop experimental type 1 diabetes drug which shields insulin-making cells from immune system attack
- Racial bias in medical devices needs immediate action
- Experts highlight link between perinatal depression and autoimmune disease
She said: “Quite frankly we had nothing to lose.
“Barry’s case has highlighted verrucae infection as a possible cause of foot ulcerations failing to heal and has increased the possibilities of using Swift in such cases.
“This could be far-reaching in the treatment of non-healing foot ulcerations, thus preventing unnecessary amputations.”
Barry said: “It saved my life. I’m still working and I’m on building sites and everything, and without my legs, that would have been the end of it.
“As a sole practitioner, my career would have ended if the amputations were carried out.”
Swift is the brainchild of scientists Gary Beale and Eamon McErlean.
The technology is used globally by podiatrists to treat verrucae and plantar warts. Tests are ongoing to evaluate its effectiveness in treating other conditions.
