European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: There are several types of diabetic foot ulcers, namely neuropathic, ischemic, neuro-ischemic, mix ulcer, diabetic bullae, and furuncle/carbuncle. This study intends to identify the characteristics of ulcers in diabetic patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kitamura Wound Clinic, in Pontianak-Indonesia from October 2019 to February 2020 to investigate ulcer occurrence in diabetic patients. A sample was used to select 292 study participants. A univariate model analysed the characteristic respondent and ulcers.
Results: The median and range age of the participants was 56 (27-87) years, and 55.1% of the participants were female. The patients with positive neuropathy were 30.8%, the mean of systole blood pressure was 135.68 (±23.9) and diastolic pressure was 83.02 (±11.4). The median and range of HbA1C were 9.8 (6.44 -14). Characteristics of ulcer in diabetic included 36% DUDT (diabetic ulcer due to trauma), 37.3% diabetic bullae, 9.2% furuncle/carbuncle (boils), and 8.6% neuropathic. The most common cause of ulcers was trauma (47.9%) and the most common ulcer locations were 38.4% on the toe and plantar (24.7%).
Conclusion: This study found the characteristics of ulcers in diabetic patient were DUDT, neuropathic, ischemic, neuro-ischemic, arterial, venous, mixed ulcer, diabetic bullae and furuncle/carbuncle. Health care providers should distinguish the types or characteristics of ulcers in diabetic patients so that they can consider wound care and treatment according to the characteristics of diabetic ulcers.