CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOOTWEAR TO PREVENT DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia due to impairment in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Diabetic foot ulcers are a costly complication of diabetes, reducing people's quality of life and increasing morbidity and mortality. The incidence of foot ulcers in diabetic patients in Turkey is estimated to be 2%, with a prevalence of 5-7%. Throughout their lifetime, diabetic individuals can reach foot ulcer incidence rates of up to 34%. The mortality rate in those with ulcers is approximately twice that of diabetic patients without ulcers. Moreover, 85% of diabetes-related lower extremity amputations are preceded by foot ulcers. Diabetic foot ulcers usually result from repetitive stresses on the foot (cutting and pressure) in the presence of complications associated with diabetes, such as peripheral neuropathy or peripheral arterial disease, and their healing is often complicated by the development of infection. Therefore, wearing appropriate shoes designed to reduce repetitive stresses is recommended to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers in diabetic individuals. A method should develop to provide guidance to multidisciplinary healthcare professionals involved in supplying shoes to diabetic individuals.