Abstract

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus patients occurring in 15% of these individuals. The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk factors of diabetic foot ulcer and determine its treatment in diabetic patients. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study was performed on 100 diabetic patients with foot ulcer, hospitalized in the Shahid Beheshti and Yahayanejad hospitals in Babol from 2003 to 2004. Information was collected with two questionnaires, one for demographic characteristics and the other covering the risk factors of diabetic foot ulcer and its treatment. Data was analyzed by SPSS software, P values <0.05 were considered significant. Results: There was no significant difference between gender and smoking, or alcohol consumption and obesity (p>0. 05). Foot ulcer occurred incidentally in 66% of patients and in 18%, foreign bodies were the cause. Seventy-three percent of patients (27 males and 46 females) had abnormal foot structure, revealing a significant difference between sex and abnormal foot structure (P=0. 001). Conclusion: Although diabetic foot ulcer cannot be prevented, but controlling the risk factors and educating people, can significantly decrease the incidence rate and morbidity.