Factors related to changes in foot status and foot care in patients with diabetes mellitus participating in an exercise health education program

Kumiko Ozawa,Kumiko Kawasaki,Yuka Noto,Mayumi Urushizaka,Toshiko Tomisawa,Kyoko Tagami,Hideaki Yamabe,Maiko Kitajima,Sakiko Sakuraba,Chieko Itaki

doi:10.4236/jdm.2014.41012

Abstract

Purpose: To identify factors related to changes in foot status and foot care in patients with diabetes mellitus participating in an exercise program. Methods: The subjects were 21 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (8 males, 13 females). The mean age of the patients was 62.3 ± 12.5 years old. Foot status, physical measurements and daily activities were monitored and several surveys were performed. Results: Changes in foot status were significantly positively correlated with walking at normal speed (r = 0.54, p p p p p

Highlights

The world diabetes mellitus population in 2012 was about 371,000,000, or about 8.3% of the adult population [1], and the number of patients with diabetes is likely to increase
A foot lesion is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients and exercise is a protective factor against development of foot lesions [5]
Abnormal findings for 5 of the 12 items were found in 6 patients (40.0%) before the exercise program and in 9 (60%) by the end of the exercise program

Summary

Introduction

The world diabetes mellitus population in 2012 was about 371,000,000, or about 8.3% of the adult population [1], and the number of patients with diabetes is likely to increase. Leg amputation is common in patients with diabetes, with more than 80,000 of these procedures each year in the USA. Leg amputation reduces QOL and influences self-care behavior such as diet therapy, exercise therapy, and insulin self injection [2]. Delayed or inappropriate treatment of foot lesions in diabetes mellitus can result in infection, gangrene and amputation. Repeated education of patients in foot care can reduce amputation rates by more than 50% [3] and continuous intervention is more effective than guidance given only once [4]. Foot ulcers can be avoided using an exercise program with screening for foot lesions in patients with multiple diabetic complications or a history of foot ulceration [6] and improvement of the shoes of diabetic patients with foot lesions and can result in general improvement of health and mental status [7]

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