DIABETIC FOOT - NEVER ENDING STORY OF EDUCATION

Introduction and Objective Diabetic foot is a devastating complication of diabetes. It is defined as a foot affected by ulceration associated with neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease of the lower limb in a patient with diabetes. The prevalence is 4–10%. in the diabetic population. Method Both our case reports illustrate that for neglect of preventive examinations at the family doctor a diabetic foot became the first symptom of diabetes. Results and Conclusion 45-year-old patient was hospitalized because for sepsis of unknown etiology. Present ulcer of the left foot led to until unknown diagnosis of diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy without serious peripheral arterial disease. Ulcer healed promptly. The 70-year-old man, unfortunately avoided the preventive examination at the family doctor. Diabetic foot developed after an accident on holiday, when he stepped on a sea urchin. Several months of unsuccessful ulcer healing followed diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and treatment started. Osteolysis of I. metatarsal suggested for osteomyelitis. The surgeon planned the amputation, but after many years of neglect screening, the prostatic specific antigen (PSA) test and biopsies confirmed prostate cancer. The patient is now undergoing radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. Good management of diabetes and healthy lifestyle helps to keep this disease under control. It is important to educate the diabetic patient properly on how to care for his feet. Our aim is: the foot of diabetic patient will not become diabetic foot. In educational activities of family doctors in Slovakia is an helpful website under a National Program of Cardiovascular Diseases.