Diabetic Foot: a preliminary study

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcer causes serious disability and considerable strain over the scarce resources of the patients in our community and country. The objective was to identify the risk factors of diabetic foot in patients admitted in the surgical ward at the Western Regional Hospital, Belize, to monitor the management of diabetic foot ulcer. Methods: Twelve patients admitted to the surgical ward with diabetic foot were interviewed, examined and studied. Patients were examined for peripheral pulses, sensations and body mass index determined. Results: Five (41.7%) were women and seven (58.3%), men. Half of the patients (50%) were over 60 years. Ten (83.3%) of them had type 2 diabetes. Awareness about risk factors causing diabetic foot problems was lacking among all patients. Glycaemic control was poor in six patients (50%). Most patients were overweight (58.3%), and 66.7% never received education about foot care for diabetics. Nine patients (75%) were on oral hypoglycaemic agents. Duration of diabetes was greater than 10 years in nine of the patients. The main cause for diabetic foot ulcer was blisters and burns in 50.0% of the patients. All patients received more than one antibiotic. In two patients (16.7%), foot ulcers healed only by conservative management; seven patients (58.3%) were subjected to debridement and desloughing; and one each to toe amputation, trans-metatarsal amputation or below knee amputation. Conclusions: Foot care education would be a most important way of dealing with this major problem. Non-compliance to treatment is the major risk factor for amputation.