BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcers are common and estimated to affect 15% of all diabetics. In India it is estimated that approximately 40,000 legs are being amputated every year of which 75% are potentially preventable. METHODOLOGY: To determine the prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers and the type of ulcers amongst the diagnosed diabetes mellitus patients a prospective study was carried out during the period January 2013 to December 2014 in the department of General medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences and Medical college, Kadapa, A.P. RESULTS: Diabetic foot ulcers were found in 14% diabetes mellitus patients. Neuropathic type of foot ulcer was present in 48.62% of patients (60.5% in male and 18.5% in female). Ischemic type of foot ulcer was present in 18.26% of patients (39.5% in male and in 14.06% females). Neuro-ischemic type of foot ulcer was present in 33.12% of patients (21% in males and 46.44% in females). CONCLUSION: Neuropathy occurred most frequently either singly or with peripheral vascular disease. General awareness about the disease, early diagnosis and proper management will prevent this dreaded complication.

Glibenclamide is a second generation sulfonylurea used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The study included 57 type 2 diabetic patients of either sex, aged above 21 years, an who were under treatment with glibenclamide. Blood samples were collected after 2 hours of drug intake and the next day, early morning before taking the drug. Serum glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were estimated. The effect of glibenclamide treatment on long-term glycemic control was studied. There was no correlation between peak serum drug concentrations and post prandial glucose level as well as between trough serum drug and fasting glucose concentrations as could be observed from the coefficient of correlation (R2) values of 0.0319 and 0.0013, respectively. There is no correlation between peak serum drug concentration and HbA1c% as can be observed from the R2 value of 0.0101.The insignificant correlation between the parameters indicates that upon chronic therapy with glibenclamide desensitization and receptor down regulation occurs leading to loss of glycemic control. It was observed that the increased dose of glybenclamide also did not improve glycemic control.