Diabetic foot problems in tertiary care diabetic clinic in Thailand

Abstract

Foot problems in patients with diabetes cause substantial morbidity and may lead to lower extremity amputations. These risks may be reduced by appropriate screening and intervention measures. Effective screening assigns the patient to a risk category and dictates both the type and frequency of appropriate foot interventions. Less than half of diabetic patients in tertiary care hospital in Thailand received annual foot examination and there are limited data available on the nature of foot problems in such setting. This study reported a cross-sectional data of 438 diabetic patients attend tertiary diabetic clinic in the university hospital in Northern Thailand. Neuropathy manifestations as skin dryness, limitation of joint mobility and insensate to monofilament was the most common manifestation of diabetic foot problems in this setting. Most patients were not protected by proper footwear. More effort is needed to educate diabetic patients about foot care and improve their choice and selection of footwear. © The Author(s) 2012.