Assessment of Diabetic Foot Risk in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Applying to Lefkoşa Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital
Keywords:
Diabetic Foot, Diabetic neuropathies, Foot deformites, Risk assessment, Type 2 diabetes mellitusAbstract
Purpose: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) is associated with a substantial risk of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), yet population-level risk stratification data remain scarce in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). This study aimed to determine the diabetic foot risk profiles of individuals with T2D attending a central referral hospital in the TRNC.
Methods: This cross-sectional observational study enrolled 153 individuals with T2D at Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital, Lefkoşa, TRNC. Diabetic foot risk was classified according to the Turkish Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (TEMD) guideline framework as low, moderate, or high risk. Assessments included sensory evaluation using a 10 g Semmes-Weinstein monofilament and 128 Hz tuning fork, peripheral pulse palpation, foot deformity examination, and foot care and footwear assessment.
Results: The mean age of participants was 59.7 ± 11.5 years, and mean HbA1c was 8.3 ± 1.4%. Sensory dysfunction was identified in 53.6% of participants, and loss of peripheral arterial pulses in 13.7%. The most prevalent deformities were hallux valgus (51.6%) and pes planus (47.1%). Inadequate foot care and inappropriate footwear use were reported in 64.1% and 39.8% of participants, respectively. Risk stratification revealed that 45.8% were low risk, 47.7% moderate risk, and 6.5% high risk.
Conclusion: More than half of individuals with T2D in the TRNC were classified within moderate-to-high risk categories for DFU development. The high prevalence of sensory dysfunction, biomechanical deformities, and inadequate self-care behaviors highlights the urgent need for multidisciplinary preventive strategies including physiotherapy, orthotic management, and patient education in this population.
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