Diabetic foot ulcer is the most serious complication of diabetes. In addition to diabetic peripheral neuropathy and lower extremity vascular disease, diabetic foot pressure abnormality is an independent risk factor for diabetic foot ulcers. This review summarizes the relationship between plantar pressure and diabetes, including the concept of the plantar pressure and its measurement methods, as well as the abnormal changes in the plantar pressure of diabetic patients. In addition, through the explanation of the mechanism of diabetic patients’ plantar pressure changes, the methods of releasing the abnormal plantar pressure are discussed, so as to prevent and treat the diabetic foot ulcers, and improve our understanding of it.
ObjectiveTo investigate the epidemiological characteristics and predisposing causes of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in the hospitalized patients with diabetic foot disease (DFD).MethodsThe clinical data of patients with DFD admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 1st, 2012 and December 31st, 2018 were collected through the electronic medical record system. The demographic characteristics, blood glucose control status, and the predisposing causes of DFU were analyzed.ResultsA total of 1 022 DFD inpatients with an average age of (65.5±11.9) years old were included in this study, including 679 males and 343 females; 59.4% (513/864) of the patients had a college degree or above, but the patients with more severe DFD had lower educational level (χ2trend=19.554, P<0.001). The average time from diagnosis of diabetes mellitus to occurrence of DFD was (10.6±7.1) years, and 42.4% (433/1 022) of the patients had diabetes for over 10 years. Among the patients, 82.3% (841/1 022) treated diabetes irregularly, 56.2% (555/987) never monitored blood glucose, 51.2% (523/1 022) had a history of foot ulcers, and 8.6% (88/1 022) had a history of lower extremity or toe amputation. The average fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c were (8.6±3.8) mmol/L and (8.2±2.1)%, respectively. There were 52.2% (525/1 006) and 94.4% (958/1 015) of the DFD patients companied with peripheral arterial disease and neuropathy, respectively. DFUs were mainly single (52.7%, 447/849) and neuro-ischemic ulcers (53.0%, 389/734). The main predisposing causes were physical causes (21.6%, 180/834) and trauma (19.2%, 160/834).ConclusionsThe patients with DFD have the characteristics of old age, long course of diabetes, irregular treatment of diabetes and poor control of blood glucose, combined with neurovascular diseases, and high recurrence rate of foot ulcer. Therefore, diabetes education, early screening of foot risk factors, and early intervention should be strengthened to prevent the occurrence and recurrence of DFU.
Objective To provide a clinical basis for the prevention of diabetic foot ulcers by analyzing the clinical data and prognosis of high-risk diabetic foot patients. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on high-risk diabetic foot patients who were hospitalized in West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2018. Patients were divided into high-risk group and low-risk group according to whether they hada history of foot ulcer or amputation. The clinical characteristics of the two groups of patients were compared. The patients were followed up from hospital discharge to January 31, 2021, and their survival and ulcer recurrence or new-onset status were evaluated. Results Finally, 123 patients were included, including 29 patients in the high-risk group and 94 patients in the low-risk group. There was no statistical difference in the duration of diabetes, smoking history, drinking history, education level, proportion of receiving regular treatment, proportion of regular blood glucose monitoring, body mass index, proportion of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, callus, foot deformity, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy, diabetic gastrointestinal autonomic neuropathy, hypertension, coronary heart disease and laboratory test results between the two groups (P>0.05). The proportion of women (51.7% vs. 29.8%), age [(69.8±10.3) vs. (64.4±11.3) years], proportion of lower extremity arterial disease (62.1% vs. 34.4%), proportion of hyperuricemia (27.6% vs. 10.6%) in the high-risk group were higher than the low-risk group (P<0.05). After follow-up (67±20) months, 25.8% of the patients had ulcer recurrence or new onset, and 24.2% of the patients died. The most common cause of death was diabetes complications (43.8%). The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative mortality rates of the patients were 4.5%, 12.7%, and 20.6%, respectively. The 3- and 5-year recurrence or new ulcer rates were 8.3% and 18.2%, respectively. The 5-year recurrence or new ulcer rates in the low-risk group and high-risk group were 10.3% and 40.3%, respectively, and there was a difference in ulcer recurrence between the two groups (P=0.004). Conclusions Compared with high-risk diabetic foot patients without ulcer or amputation, patients with a history of ulcer or amputation have higher rates of lower extremity arterial disease and hyperuricemia. Patients with a history of ulceration or amputation have a higher risk of recurrent or new ulceration than patients without a history of ulceration or amputation.