An experience of diabetic foot in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disease all over the world and starts very innocently and progress very vigorously. it effects every part of the body,but adversely target the feet. like the disease itself the feet problem also starts with small innocent ulcer and progress to lethal gangrene that ends either with amputation,septicemia or death. aim: to search for avoidable factors in diabetic foot ulcer patients. methods: this prospective observational study was conducted at sabiya general hospital,kingdom of saudi arabia,in the emergency room directly or referred into the diabetic clinic,from 20112012. patients having previous amputation,marioloine ulcer and established gangrene were excluded from the study. results: out of 129 patients,119 patients had significant involvement of fore foot and mid foot was observed,in the study period. 10 patients were excluded from the study. patient had history of ulcer more than 4 weeks before consultation. 102 (79%) patients changed their foot wear while 17 patients not. the foot wear changed group got significant earlier healing in 48 weeks time,as compare to those patients who resist change their foot wear. conclusion: simple change of local customizes sandal foot wear use,expedites healing of foot ulcer,and may even avoid of recurrence of foot ulcer. added factor in diabetic foot ulcer is locally used sandal in diabetic patients. illiteracy adds in poor foot care and wear which is one of the most important causes of diabetic foot ulcer and requires concern for quality,type and size adjustments.