DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS;

CORRELATION OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS OF HYDERABAD SINDH PAKISTAN.

Abstract

Objectives: To know the correlation of foot ulcers to the nutritional status of
type 2 Diabetic patients of Hyderabad. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place of Study:
Private clinics of consultants of Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. Duration of study: February 2015
to June 2016. Methodology: 387 diabetic type 2 patients were selected from different clinics
of physicians, orthopedics and diabetic consultants of sadder Hyderabad Sindh Pakistan. The
mean age was 40±11.5 years. All patients were enrolled on prescribed proforma. Thorough
clinical examination was done. Wagner’s classification was used to categorize diabetic foot
ulcers. Nutritional status was classified on Mini Nutritional Assessment score and patients were
divided into three groups according to Mini nutritional score. Blood samples were obtained for
Hemoglobin%, blood sugar, serum calcium and serum albumin estimation. All patients were
assessed radiologically by x-rays of involved foot. ANOVA test was used and p value <0.05
was considered statically significant. Results: There was linear correlation in between Mini
nutritional assessment and severity of diabetic foot ulcer (p <0.03). Biochemical parameter
were also significantly associated with the severity of ulcers. Serum albumin was decreased
in grade 4 ulcer significantly (p value <0.04), while hemoglobin was also decreased in grade
4 ulcer, p value (<0.05). There was no association of serum calcium to severity of foot ulcer,
(p value >0.07). Conclusion: Diabetic foot ulcers are common in type 2 diabetic patients and
nutritional status is strongly associated with grade of severity. It is important to assess nutritional
status of all diabetic patients.