Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends an annual foot screening of patients podiatric risk for ulceration and amputation, to take effective preventive measures. However, the gradation of the podiatric risk remains insufficient, particularly in Tunisia, where epidemiological references remain missing. The aim of this study was to classify a population of diabetic patients according to the grade of podiatric risk by referring to the recommendations of the International Working Group of The Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) of 2019.

Patients and Methods: This is a prospective cross–sectional descriptive study of 100 patients with diabetes. Screening for diabetic neuropathy was done by the Semmes–Weinstein monofilament test (10g). Peripheral arterial disease was assessed by palpation of the peripheral pulses.

Results: The mean age was 54 ± 12.9 years, The sex ratio was 0.78. Diabetes was type 2 in the majority of cases (78%). The average duration of progression of diabetes was 13.62 ± 6.29 years. 78% of the population has been unbalanced. The prevalence of sensory neuropathy was 41%. That of peripheral arteriopathy was 18%. Grade 0 was the most frequent with a frequency of 59%. Only 4% of the population had grade 3. The frequences of Grade 1 and 2 were respectively of 21 and 16%.

Conclusion: The diabetic foot is one of the most expensive and difficult to manage complications of the diabetes. The gradation of the podiatric risk is a simple means of screening making it possible to identify the subjects whose risk is high.