Diabetic foot prevention among the patients with diabetes living in Wroclaw based on their education assessment

Introduction. Diabetic foot ulceration prevention, among others, consist in patients' education about proper foot hygiene. The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of education among patients with diabetes mellitus living in Wroclaw. Materials and methods. 291 medical records (157 from women and 134 from men) from Diabetes Foot Center in Wroclaw, were analyzed for NbA1c value, level of the education about diabetic foot prevention with respect to gender, age, diabetes duration and diabetes types. Results. Mean patients' age was 63.3 (21-84). 77 patients (27.55%) known their own HbA(1c), value and among this group the mean HbA(1c) value was 7.38%. 13% participants (32% with type 1 and 11% with type 2) presented proper level of the education about diabetic foot prevention. Neither gender nor diabetes duration influenced on patients' HbA(1c) or proper hygiene knowledge. Younger patients more likely known the HbA(1c) value but not proper hygiene principles. Conclusions. 1. Only 13.1% participants presented adequate knowledge about diabetic foot risk factors and self-protection principles. 2. Patients with type 1 diabetes more frequent know the HbA(1c) value and diabetic foot self-protection principles than patients with type 2. 3. Neither patients' gender nor diabetes duration influenced on HbA(1c) or foot-prophylaxis knowledge. 4. Younger patients more likely known the HbA(1c) value but not self-protection principles. 5. Patients' education about proper foot hygiene results in adequate knowledge. 6. The knowledge about proper foot hygiene does not protect patients from calluses and foot deformities.