Table 4.

Components of a comprehensive diabetic examination by physician characteristics for diabetic patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of emerging foot neuropathy^*

	Physician Gender			Physician Level of Experience
	Female N=96	Male N=96	p value	Less N=96	More N=96	p value
Medical History
Adherence with diet	49.0	41.7	0.310	49.0	41.7	0.310
Adherence with meds	55.2	44.8	0.144	49.0	51.0	0.769
Exercise habits	34.4	32.3	0.769	31.3	35.4	0.557
Previous neuropathy	15.6	15.6	1.000	11.5	19.8	0.120
Eye disease	35.4	22.9	0.048	30.2	28.1	0.740
Examinations
Blood pressure	61.5	58.3	0.675	55.2	64.6	0.211
Fundoscopic	18.8	12.5	0.242	16.7	14.6	0.696
Laboratory Tests
HbA1c	74.0	70.8	0.640	78.1	66.7	0.089
Fasting lipid	69.8	56.3	0.061	61.5	64.6	0.663
Liver function	49.0	35.4	0.040	51.0	33.3	0.008
Microalbuminuria	77.1	65.6	0.066	78.1	64.6	0.030
TSH †	27.1	21.9	0.413	27.1	21.9	0.413
Referrals
Ophthalmologist	40.6	25.0	0.024	33.3	32.3	0.879
Advice
Exercise	74.0	62.5	0.044	69.8	66.7	0.579
Foot self exams	28.1	29.2	0.870	32.3	25.0	0.253
Diet	75.0	70.8	0.494	79.2	66.7	0.042

^*Numbers are the percents and a p value for a test of the null hypotheses of no difference by the patient or physician characteristic.

^†Thyroid stimulating hormone