Identifying at-risk foot among hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study in one Chinese tertiary hospital

Burden of diabetic foot syndrome in rural community: Need for screening and health promotion

Context

Living with diabetes can be difficult since it can affect the patient in many ways. Diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is described as a group of symptoms where neuropathy reduced blood supply and infection leads to tissue breakdown and morbidity.

Aim

This study aims to determine the prevalence of DFS and associated sociodemographic and treatment-related factors among adults living with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a rural community.

Setting and Design

A cross-sectional study was conducted in an area under the rural health training centre of department of Community Medicine.

Methods and Material

The study was conducted to determine DFS by measuring neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease using Michigan neuropathy screening instrument, and clinical examination.

Statistical Analysis Used

The data collected was analyzed using SPSS 25.

Results

The prevalence of DFS among those with type 2 diabetes mellitus was high (51.7%). DFS was associated with advanced age (>75 years), duration of diabetes for more than 5 years and with foot ulcer. Smoking and alcohol consumption were not associated with DFS.

Conclusion

Half of those with diabetes had DFS. People with DFS were more likely to be older and living with diabetes for longer duration. This underscores the need for early identification of DFS by the primary care physicians. Further research on the role of health professionals at the primary care level in educating and screening DFS in people with diabetes are required.

Family history of diabetes is associated with diabetic foot complications in type 2 diabetes

To investigate the relationship between diabetic foot complications (DFCs) and clinical characteristics, especially the number and types of first-degree family members with diabetes. A total of 8909 type 2 diabetes patients were enrolled. The clinical characteristics of these patients, including DFCs and family history of diabetes (FHD), were collected from medical records. Multiple regression was used to investigate the association between FHD and DFCs after adjusting for confounding factors. The patients with one and more than one first-degree family member with diabetes accounted for 18.7% and 12.8%, respectively. The proportions of the participants with a father with diabetes, a mother with diabetes, both parents with diabetes, siblings with diabetes, father and siblings with diabetes, mother and siblings with diabetes, and both parents and siblings with diabetes were 3.5%, 6.2%, 1.1%, 14.4%, 1.5%, 4%, and 0.7%, respectively. The multiple regression analysis showed that the number of family members with diabetes was positively associated with DFCs. However, among the different types of FHD, only the patients with a mother with diabetes showed a statistical association with DFCs. In addition to FHD, other factors, including gender, body mass index, platelet count, hemoglobin levels, albumin levels, high-density cholesterol levels, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and the use of lipid-lowering agents, oral hypoglycemic agents, and insulin, were also associated with DFCs. DFCs were associated with different numbers of family members with diabetes and types of FHD. This association reveals the importance of genetic and environmental factors in DFCs and highlights the importance of adding FHD to public health strategies targeting detecting and preventing the disease.