What is the prevalence and risk factors for diabetic foot ulceration?

Diabetic Ulcer: See http://www.Cdc.Gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5245a3.Htm the answer is 12.7% prevalence. The greatest risk factor is the duration of diabetes. The other risk factors are: obesity, use of insulin, smoking, hispanic, white race, not married and younger age.

15-25% of diabetics: Approximately will develop an ulcer, many resulting in an amputation. The main risk factors are: poor blood glucose control; vascular insufficiency, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, some for of foot deformity.

Multiple factors: Diabetics have a lifetime risk of 15-20% of developing a foot ulcer and of those 15-20% will go on to amputations. Those % are going to increase to 25% in the next few years. Multiple risk factors lead to ulcers and amputation, and high blood sugars is one of them. High blood sugars leads to neuropathy, poor circulation and foot deformities among other things. Trauma is another risk factor.

Diabetic are at risk: Diabetic are particularly susceptible to foot ulceration primarily because of neuropathy, vascular insufficiency, and due to a diminished healing ability. Patients with diabetes will often lose protective sensations, temperature and pain perception, and have an impairing awareness of trauma such as abrasions, blistering, or penetrating foreign body.

Uncontrolled sugar: Keep your sugar under control and you'll be fine. Neuropathy which is the loss of sensation in your foot is the major risk factor and it occurs when sugar is not controlled.