Endocrine Abstracts

Aims

To identify the risk of foot complications in patients with diabetes.

Methods

This study was carried out on 140 patients with diabetes mellitus, including Iranian and other ethnic minority group. The study groups were identified from a diabetic clinic (hospital-based) and a diabetes research center. Risk in the study sample was assessed based on International working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF). An endocrinologist with a trained medical intern assessed patients’ vascular, neurological and status of foot care.

Results

The mean age was 52.4 years (S.D.=11.2), 67.1% were female. The mean duration of diabetes was 8.9 years (S.D.=6.2). The mean body mass index (BMI) was 29.4 (S.D.=4.4) and HbA1c was 9.3 (S.D.=1.9). 33.6 percent and 17.7% had retinopathy and nephropathy, respectively. 37.1% of patients was illiterate and 10% were active smokers. Ninety five percent did not know about nail cutting and none of them had any education about foot care. From the 140 assessable patients, 20 (14.3%) had a history of foot ulcer. Sensory neuropathy with loss of protective sensation, as measured by the 5.07 (10 g) Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing, was present in 28.6% of patients. According to the classification system of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot, 30% of patients were at low-risk for pedal ulceration (grade 1) and 70% were in the higher-risk groups (grade 2 & 3).

Conclusions

The initial assessment of foot care in this study group emphasize the need for implementing screening and preventive strategies to decrease the burden of diabetic foot problems and to improve the quality of life for people with diabetes.