Infection and Foot Care in Diabetics Seeking Treatment in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha State, India | Chapter 15 | Current Trends in Disease and Health Vol. 3
Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem that can
cause a number of serious complications. Foot ulceration is one of its most
common complications. Poor foot care knowledge and practices are important risk
factors for foot problems among diabetics. The present study was undertaken in
the diabetes outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital to assess the
practices regarding foot care in diabetes, find out the determinants of foot
ulcer in diabetics, and offer suggestions to improve care. After informed
consent, a total of 124 diabetics were interviewed to collect all relevant
information. The diabetic foot care practice responses were converted into
scores and for the sake of analysis were inferred as poor (0–5), fair (6-7) and
good (>7) practices. Of the study population, 68.5% (85/124) consisted of
men. The disease was diagnosed within the last 5 years for 66% (81/124) of the
study participants. Of the study subjects, 83% (103/124) were on oral
hypoglycemic agents (OHAs), 15.3% (19) on insulin and 2 on diet control only.
Among them about 18.5% had a history of foot ulcer. 37.9% reported using
special slippers, 12% diabetics used slippers indoors and 66.9% used slippers
while using toilet. Of the study subjects, 67.8% said that feet should be inspected
daily. 27.4% said they regularly applied oil/moisturizer on their feet. There
is a need on part of the primary or secondary physician and an active
participation of the patient to receive education about foot care as well as
awareness regarding risk factors, recognition, clinical evaluation and thus
prevention of the complications of diabetes.
Author(s) Details
Sonali Kar
Department
of Community Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University,
Patia, Bhubaneswar 751024, India.
Shalini Ray
Kalinga
Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Patia, Bhubaneswar 751024,
India.
Dayanidhi Mehe
Department
of Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Patia,
Bhubaneswar 751024, India.
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