Moaz Abdullah Mojaddidi
Taibah University College of Medicine, Saudi Arabia
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Diabetes Metab
To determine the foot care pattern among diabetic patients identified in the community through random screening in relation to symptoms and signs. A total number of 899 adult volunteer subjects were invited to participate in a campaign â??your health is your lifeâ??, created by Taibah medical club between April 24th 2014 till May 2nd 2014. All subjects screened for diabetes through testing for HbA1c. We enquired about knowledge and practice of foot care, the Michigan neuropathy screening instrument and diabetic neuropathy symptom score. Unsteadiness in gait is assessed as well. Patients who were found to have distal symmetrical polyneuropathy on examination were tested further using Neuropad. Results:(Mean ± Standard deviation). HbA1c 8±2.1%. BMI was 31.7±8.9 and waist circumference 80.9 ±18cm. 101 subjects of total subjects included in the campaign have type 2 diabetes mellitus. 9% of total diabetic subjects did not know they have Type2DM and it was discovered during the campaign. Although all of diabetic patients wash their feet daily only 42% dry between the toes after washing. Moreover, only 27% of all diabetic patients inspect their feet for lesions either daily or several times per week while 55% will inspect their feet only if they suspect they have a problem. On examination 45% of total diabetic patients had neuropathy and almost of the newly diagnosed diabetic patients in the campaign were found to have diabetic neuropathy. We conclude the importance of induction of patient education campaign to care for feet to prevent ulcer formation in a diabetes prevalent population of Saudi Arabia.
Email: mmojaddidi@taibahu.edu.sa
