Sugardine manufacture and uses for wound care.

Sugardine is another old time wound care product that has stood the test of time.

Once made, Sugardine will be shelf stable for a very long time [years]. Having said that, do not make it too far ahead as it will take up room and resources that you may want to use for other things.

How it works, granulated sugar pulls the fluid out of wounds and bacteria, killing the bacteria. The wound will need to be inspected periodically and the dressing changed when the dressing becomes damp. Once the Sugardine becomes moist and the preparation is diluted it becomes a good breeding ground for bacteria. So the short of it is that you do need to be attentive to your patient’s needs.

History of Sugardine

Sugardine was an OLD treatment for wounds when I started practice over 40 years ago. Some sources tell of it being used in the War of Northern Aggression – AKA the 1st American Civil War. Some sources tell of a variation of this made with honey was used in the days of Pharaoh.

Supplies needed for this exercise include graduated measuring cup of 250 to 500 ml [1 or 2 cups], mixing bowl which ideally has a cover with it, mixing spoon, granulated white sugar and Betadine. [Betadine is a trade name for an antiseptic solution made from iodine 10%. There are other names for this product and the prices vary a lot- get whatever brand is cheapest as the generic is just as good as the trade name version. Be prepared to show ID as some states restrict the sale of iodine products as it can be used in the manufacture of some street drugs – but that is another story… take a copy of this article with you and if they question what you are doing only then show this to them]

Making Sugardine;

First wash your hands, then review this article and assemble the supplies you will need. This is a CLEAN procedure not sterile.

Start with about the amount of sugar as you expect to need of the finished product keeping in mind that you will need to tend the wound for several days. In this exercise we are starting with 1 cup [250 ml] of sugar, you will need about ½ cup [125 ml] of Betadine – add half [ 60 ml] and start mixing, SLOWLY incorporate the remaining Betadine solution only until you end up with a very stiff peanut butter consistency. The actual amount of Betadine that you will use depends on how humid it is in your area, so you may need a bit more OR less. Once done mixing cap the container of finished Sugardine. LABLE the container with product name, date of manufacture and your name [or initials if you are in a production setting in which case you would add the facility name too]. Clean your work station and wash your hands again. ***ALL good medical procedures begin and end with washing your hands***.

Use of Sugardine;

Generally this product is used for wet, draining wounds.

First wash your hands ;] then review this article and assemble the supplies you will need.
The supplies you will need include absorbent dressing of the correct size to cover the wound, whatever you are going to use to secure the dressing in place [tape or bandage], sterile water for irrigation, towels or chuk pads for under the affected area to contain the mess, clean rubber gloves and a trash can to put contaminated waste in.

Remove the old dressing and clean the wound. As genteelly as possible layer the Sugardine in to the wound kinda like you are making a PB & J sandwich. Cover with the new dressing and secure in place. Clean up the area and wash your hands.

Now comes the real fun part ;]

Document the procedure in the patient record which will contain your assessment of the wound, what you did and when you think the next dressing change should take place. This is important EVEN if you are the only one providing care for this person as it will help track the healing process and alert you to consider a change of tactics if things do not go as expected. If you are not the only one providing care it helps the others track changes in the patient’s condition too AND it helps them plan their shift and work load.

Keep in mind that this is only for after the shtf, until then do what your doctor tells you to do.