“What is the best way to stop bleeding in a diabetic patient?”

The best way to stop bleeding in diabetics as well as in nondiabetics is to control the sugars, and blood pressure. While diabetics are more likely to have retinal and vitreous hemorrhages, this is due to the development of abnormal , fragile blood vessels in the eye that are more likely to leak blood, especially in the presence of high blood pressure. Urgent ophthalmic intervention may be necessary. Diabetes itself should not cause significant blood loss leading to anemia.

Venous. If possible, elevate the bleeding part above the level of the heart while laying down and use an elastic bandage to apply mild to moderate pressure until the bleeding has stopped. Then, use a sterile dressing and petrolatum gel beneath the covering pad. This is the same as for non diabetics!

Diabetics should not have more bleeding than a regular person. So applying pressure and holding it for a few minutes should work. If bleeding does not stop after a few minutes, please go to emergency room.

Dr. Marina Strizhevsky

Who told you diabetics are at a higher risk of bleeding? Patients with liver disease are at a higher risk of bleeding, and many Type 2 diabetics have fatty liver disease due to obesity, but for diabetics without liver disease, in general the opposite is true. They are at risk of blood clots and strokes because high sugars make the blood more viscous (thicker), and inflammatory cytokines make blood more likely to clot. This is one of the many reasons diabetics have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

Thanks for your email.

Actually, thickening of the blood and clot formation is the norm for diabetics, and less bleeding, only if you are taking blood thinners. Typically, we advise diabetics to take a baby aspirin and fish oil to help thin their blood and improve circulation. If they get a nose bleed or cerebral hemorrhage, it's typically from poorly controlled blood pressure, which requires tight control of blood pressure. Local pressure, tourniquet application and surgical remedies including ligation or cauterization of the bleeder is indicated for more severe cases.

Thanks,

Dr. Sunil

First, they do not have a greater risk of bleeding. Second, you do not do anything different than with a person that does not have diabetes.

Unless the diabetic has a bleeding defect or is taking an anticoagulant there should be no difference from a person without diabetes. Now this statement applies to the well controlled diabetes. In the poorly controlled diabetes there is a problem with stickiness of the platelets that can disrupt the clotting mechanism. So keep your blood sugar in good control and control any bleeding as you would if you did not have diabetes. The first step to control bleeding is pressure on the spot of the bleeding. If a major artery is cut a tournequet may be needed as well as pressure. In that case get medical help ASAP. For common bleeding simple pressure will usually do the trick. BUT keep your blood sugars in control to avoid clotting problems.