Abstract
Diabetic foot disease heavily weighs upon diabetics, being a significant cause of morbidity and severe disability. Their prevention is indispensable. Our study aimed to reduce the rate of amputations in diabetics. We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study of podiatric risk screening in patients with type 2 diabetes in the Endocrinology Department at the University Hospital of Befelatanana and at the Amadia Clinic, Faravohitra, over a period of 6 months. The average age of our patients was 54.43 years. Male sex predominated (60%). The patients suffered from diabetes which had evolved, on average, over a period of 7.35 years. The most common patient's history was smoking and chronic ulcerations of the foot. More than half of patients had an imbalance of diabetes, microalbuminuria and retinopathy. 56.50% of patients were aware of their risk but less than 46% of patients gave specific examples of appropriate behaviour. Only 13.33% of patients had undergone foot examination before this study. Their podiatric risk was very high. Predictive factors for ulceration included smoking, a history of chronic ulcer of the lower limbs, an imbalance of diabetes and foot deformity. Effective prevention strategies for amputations should include the screening and the identification of population at risk of ulceration.