Do’s and dont’s for prevention of diabetic foot ulcer. (dfu)

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers are complex, chronic wounds which have a major long term
impact on the morbidity, mortality and quality of life of patients. Individuals who develop DFU are at
greater risk of premature death, myocardial infarction and fatal stroke than those without DFU. DFU
becomes chronic with recurrent infection and eventually leading to amputation, and it is totally
preventable. Patient education should be an integral part of management and prevention. The burden
of DFU (diabetic foot ulcer) has been recently recalculated and according to new estimates, every 20
seconds a leg is lost somewhere in the world.
Methods: The study was a single centre, prospective observational study conducted in out patient
departments and in patient wards of Medicine, Diabetology, Dermatology and Surgery and Plastic
Surgery. All adult patients with diabetes were enrolled in the study.
Results: Over 112 patients were studied with age range 18-60 years with mean age of presentation 39
years. All patients with diabetes with or without diabetic foot ulcers were examined detailed history
and clinical examination and routine investigations and diabetic packages were carried out according
to patients need and requirements. All these patients who have enrolled were given detailed
counseling about diabetic foots ulcers the methods to prevent diabetic foot ulcers and amputations.
They were given pamphlets containing dos and don’ts for prevention of diabetic foot ulcers in both
English and Tamil languages were distributed. Videos were played in common corridors and waiting
rooms insisting the ways to take care of the foot daily. All these patients were allowed to take oath
and sign in the promise they take to prevent diabetic foot ulcers (DFU).
Conclusions: The purpose of this article is to discuss current evidence to achieve better results in
DFU management and reduction in amputations by setting up validated techniques for screening and
allocating proper tools for prevention of DFU. This article basically teaches the patients even if they
are illiterate by means of pictures. They also illustrate clearly how and what to follow to prevent
DFU.