Abstract
Diabetes is a rapidly growing global epidemic. Most studies are predicting that Africa will have the highest population of people with diabetes. South Africa has the largest number of people living with diabetes, in Africa. With the rapid growth of diabetes, we often see an increase in related complications, particularly in the lower limb. Research has found that complications of diabetes that affect the feet are peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, structural foot deformities, diabetic foot ulcers and lowerextremity amputations. Diabetic foot ulcers are known to affect 10-20% of the diabetic population. Global statistics indicate that every thirty seconds a lower limb amputation is performed; 85% of the cases are due to diabetes. Podiatrists play a key role in the management of diabetic foot care. Early detections and management of risk factors can significantly reduce the development of diabetic foot ulcers and prevent foot amputation. A risk stratification tool is seen to be a good way to achieve this. The researcher used the Risk Stratification form developed and tested in the United Kingdom by the Scottish Diabetic Foot Action Group (SDFAG). This form was considered the best practice in the Scottish parliament to screen diabetic patients for lower-limb amputation and diabetic foot ulcers. For this reason, the researcher agreed to use it in its entirety. The aim of this research was to identify and describe diabetic foot risk factors in diabetic patients presenting at Podiatry clinics in Durban, and to identify the risk category of each of these patients in the development of a lower extremity ulcer and ultimately, amputation. To categorise the patient as low, moderate or high risk, the Diabetes Foot Screening and Risk Stratification Form was used. This research study was quantitative with a non-experimental design. The purpose of the study was descriptive using a cross-sectional design. Data was analysed descriptively and quantitatively using the Chi-square method. The independent variables identified for this study were age and gender as these two variables had a profound effect on diabetic patients. Foot screening included neurological and vascular testing of the lower limb. The study indicated that 37.4% of the patients are at risk for the development of diabetic foot ulcers. The p-value (>0.05) in Table 11 and Table 12 indicates a statistically insignificant relationship between risk profile and gender. The results have indicated...
M.Tech. (Podiatry)