ABSTRACT
Skin is the primary barrier to the environment and its breakdown exposes the body to infection and desiccation. Skin is composed of epithelial tissue with tightly packed sheets of cells. Membrane proteins forming “tight junctions” between cells confer integrity to this barrier function [1]. Disruption of this barrier occurs with wounds; any subsequent impairment in wound healing results in morbidity and increased mortality risk. Diabetic patients may have impaired wound healing due to a variety of different mechanisms, many of which are nutritionally responsive.
