The Relationship between Controlling HbA1C and Infectious Foot Ulcer

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine AND Nosocomial Infection Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Student of Medicine, Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: One of the major risk factors of foot ulcer is uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM) or in fact uncontrolled HbA1C. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between controlling HbA1C and foot ulcer. Methods: This analytic case-control study was conducted in Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran during 2010-2011. The case group included 65 male non-smoker patients who had suffered DM for more than 10 years. They were not hypertensive, did not have a history of a previous foot ulcer and were diagnosed with foot ulcer at the time of the study. The control group included 65 male patients with the same background but without foot ulcer. HbA1C levels in both groups 6 months before the study and at the time of study were evaluated. The collected data was analyzed in SPSS18. Findings: Mean time of having DM in the control group was lower than the case group (13.30 vs. 15.49 years). HbA1C < 7% was found in 7.69% of the case group and 52.31% of the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed uncontrolled HbA1C as the major factor to create foot ulcer. Therefore, constant measurement of HbA1C, controlling DM and modification of the treatment method if necessary can prevent this life threatening complication. Keywords: HbA1C, Diabetes mellitus, Foot ulcer.