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ABSTRACT
Diabetic foot ulcers still remain the leading cause of morbidity, mortality and disability among diabetic patients and also causes significant financial cost to society. in the present study, our aim was to evaluate patients with diabetic foot ulcers with respect to some predisposing factors and laboratory characteristics. Study was carried out retrospectively based on medical record of patients who admitted to our endocrlnology department between 1991 and 1996. Sixty two patients with diabetic foot ulcer, 44 males and 18 females, aged 38-78 mean 61.8(10.4) years were revlewed. Ali patients but three had noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus. After taking history and performing physical exam, we evaluated certain clinical and laboratory data related to chronical complications and diabetic foot problems. Our results showed that the patients with diabetic foot ulcers had an increased frequency of diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy and vasculopathy. Also, almost alt of our patients didn't have adequate knowledge about foot care and metabolic control of diabetes was not found satisfactory. The cost of treatment and duration of hospitalisation was found too highly. We concluded that significant factors involved in the development of diabetic foot problems are macro-and microvascular complications, associated with neuropathy, infections, poor metabolic control, smoking, biomechanical causes, duration of diabetes, and finally, perhaps being more importantly, inadequate foot hygiene. Diabetic foot ulcers are associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality. it is possible to determine which patients are at risk for ulceration and to place them in education programs. When ulcers do occur, it is important to take a systematic approach to management.
Diabetic foot ulcers still remain the leading cause of morbidity, mortality and disability among diabetic patients and also causes significant financial cost to society. in the present study, our aim was to evaluate patients with diabetic foot ulcers with respect to some predisposing factors and laboratory characteristics. Study was carried out retrospectively based on medical record of patients who admitted to our endocrlnology department between 1991 and 1996. Sixty two patients with diabetic foot ulcer, 44 males and 18 females, aged 38-78 mean 61.8(10.4) years were revlewed. Ali patients but three had noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus. After taking history and performing physical exam, we evaluated certain clinical and laboratory data related to chronical complications and diabetic foot problems. Our results showed that the patients with diabetic foot ulcers had an increased frequency of diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy and vasculopathy. Also, almost alt of our patients didn't have adequate knowledge about foot care and metabolic control of diabetes was not found satisfactory. The cost of treatment and duration of hospitalisation was found too highly. We concluded that significant factors involved in the development of diabetic foot problems are macro-and microvascular complications, associated with neuropathy, infections, poor metabolic control, smoking, biomechanical causes, duration of diabetes, and finally, perhaps being more importantly, inadequate foot hygiene. Diabetic foot ulcers are associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality. it is possible to determine which patients are at risk for ulceration and to place them in education programs. When ulcers do occur, it is important to take a systematic approach to management.