Evaluation of the Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcerations

ABSTRACT
We recently reviewed diabetic patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Fifty-one patients (26 male, 25 female) with median age of 52 ( 8 years ) who were admitted to our department and hospitalized for diabetic foot ulceration between July 1995 and November 1996 were evaluated. Duration of diabetes was below 12 months in five, 1-5 years in six , 5-10 years in eight and over 10 years in 32 of the patients. Twenty of the patients had a previous diabetic foot history and five had had lower extremely amputations. On admission, 18 were on insulin treatment, 15 were taking oral hypoglycemic agents and 18 were receiving both. Cigarette smoking prevalence was 47 %. Thirty-five had dyslipidemia and 46 had poor glycemic control (Hb A1C< 8 % ). On foot examination, dry foot was observed in 26, callus formation in 10, tinea pedis in 20, hallux valgus deformity in 6, Charcot deformity in two, claw-foot and foot-drop deformities in one patient. On questionnaire the patients were found to have little knowledge about their disease and diabetic foot care. Another striking observation was that, none of the patients had ever participated a structured diabetic patient education program, in conclusion, in order to prevent diabetic foot ulceration, uneventful amputations and unnecessary hospitalizations, educational interventions, especially specific to diabetic foot care is imperative. To improve the quality of life, routine and regular systemic foot examinations should be taken into consideration in diabetic patients.