CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISK FACTORS OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Background: DFU is a growing health care problem in diabetes and forms one of the most frequent causes of sickness for society, especially with poor health literacy and early intervention below sub-standard level in Pakistan. Ulcers are a major cause of hospitalization, dissection and mortality in diabetic patients. Objective: To explore diabetic foot ulcers in Type -2 diabetes patients at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan, to detect clinical features and risk factors. Methods: At LUH, Hyderabad, a hundred patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with foot ulcers in Pakistan were selected in this cross sectional study. Demographic, glycemic control, age, gender, comoridity ulceral type and neuropathy symptoms were reported and compared. Results: The results were mostly patients men (62%) and were presented at age> 50 years (70%). Poor glycemia (HBA1C 8%) was found in 74%. The most common ancestors' factories were neuropathy (68%), peripheral artery disease (36%) and poor leg hygiene (59%). Woner grade 2 and 3 ulcers were the most often. Conclusion: DFU remains a bad dream for diabetes care in Pakistan. Early recognition, patient education and multi-disciplinary management are the key to reducing the burden of this avoidable problem. Keywords: Diabetic foot ulcers, type 2 diabetes and neuropathy problems