Awareness of chiropody services among patients with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Many patients have diabetes‐related complications at diagnosis. This study assessed the awareness of chiropody provision among patients with diabetes mellitus and evaluated whether age, gender, duration of diabetes or treatment type influenced exposure to a chiropodist. One hundred and twenty eight patients participated in the study. Mean duration of diabetes was 9.3 years. Duration of diabetes, gender, or treatment type per se did not influence exposure to a chiropodist; only age did (p=0.017). Forty‐one (32%) patients had no contact with a chiropodist since diagnosis, and 35 (27%) were not sure how to request this service. Fortynine patients were unsure whether chiropody was free to those with diabetes. This project highlights the need to increase patients' awareness and access to proper chiropodial treatment in our quest to reduce discomfort and leg amputation rates.