Are Diabetic Patients Aware of Their Responsibilities in Preventing Diabetic Foot Disease?

INTRODUCTION: Identifying the risk factors that lead to diabetic foot disease and taking precautions is associated with a reduction in the occurrence of diabetic foot ulcers and the rate of amputation. The patient plays the most important role in that regard. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of diabetic patients, who underwent follow-up at a tertiary health center, about foot care and diabetic foot disease.
METHODS: The study included 327 patients aged over 18 years, who presented to the Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases clinic and outpatient clinic of a tertiary health center. The data were obtained using socio-demographic information and laboratory results of the subjects, information about diabetes, and responses to the diabetic foot disease awareness scale in this descriptive study.
RESULTS: The patients were grouped based on diabetic foot behaviors as follows: 79 (24.15%) patients as low-score, 144 (44.03%) patients as medium-score, and 104 (31.80%) patients as high-score. There were significant differences between the groups by education and employment status, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, type of diabetes mellitus (DM), duration (years), diabetes education, foot care education, treatment, exercise, and diabetic foot examination statuses.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Diabetic foot awareness was low in our patient group. The most important factor to increase awareness of diabetic foot disease and to prevent diabetic foot ulcers is to ensure that individuals with diabetes receive education on general diabetes and foot care and to incorporate their learnings into their behaviors.