To the Editor,
We read the article titled ‘Foot care knowledge, attitude and practices of diabetic patients A survey in Diabetes health care facility’[1] published in the July issue (2022) of the Journal of family medicine and primary care with great interest. The article drives home an important point, and I quote from the discussion section ‘Health education for diabetic patients regarding diabetic foot care should be mandatory as part of diabetic patient care at primary health care centers and diabetic clinics at hospitals.’ The article is well-written and deals with an important topic. This is especially significant given the prevalence of the condition.
It should be noted that behavioural research in terms of its ability to influence patient behaviour in patients with this condition is gaining traction.
Behavioural theories may influence how diabetics care for their feet. Adopting a perspective that views diabetic foot disease as a process over time may change foot care behaviours because it recognises the chronic nature of the condition and the need for long-term adherence to treatment.[2]
We would like to highlight a few other points in light of recent geopolitical events and a mighty pandemic.
A recent correspondence[3] highlights an often-overlooked aspect of diabetes foot care for patients displaced by war and other crises. This article goes on to emphasise the importance of foot care in hazardous situations. This may be especially important during conflicts such as the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on how noncommunicable diseases are managed, including diabetes mellitus and its consequences. According to an article, given technological improvements, the COVID-19 experience of treating diabetic foot problems will probably have an impact on how we approach treating such conditions.[4]
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Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
References
- 1.Alharbi , MO , Sulaiman AA. Foot care knowledge, attitude and practices of diabetic patients:A survey in diabetes health care facility. J Fam Med Primary Care. 2022;11:3816–23. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_183_21. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Jarl G, Lundqvist LO. Beyond dichotomous thinking:A process perspective on diabetic foot disease. Diabet Foot Ankle. 2017;8:1380477. doi: 10.1080/2000625X.2017.1380477. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Hobabagabo AF, Sumner AE. Forced migration and foot care in people with diabetes. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020;8:100. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(19)30409-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.Boulton AJM. Diabetic foot disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. Med (Kaunas) 2021;57:97. doi: 10.3390/medicina57020097. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]