Sunshine Medicine: How Vitamin D Heals Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Dr.G explores how vitamin D — produced by sunlight and acting like a hormone — impacts diabetic foot healing. He covers its roles in immune regulation, antimicrobial peptide production, inflammation control, collagen synthesis, angiogenesis, bone health, and mood, plus why deficiency is common in people with diabetes. The episode reviews research linking low vitamin D to worse ulcers, the potential benefits and limits of supplementation, who should be screened, and why vitamin D is one piece of a multidisciplinary approach that includes vascular care, infection control, nutrition, offloading, and mental health support.