BEHAVIORS PREDICTING FOOT LESIONS IN PATIENTS WITH NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

Associations between specific foot-care behaviors and foot lesions in patients with non-insulin-independent diabetes mellitus were prospecti vely investigated. Data from a randomized controlled trial for prevent ing diabetic foot lesions were analyzed as a prospective cohort using logistic regression. Independent variables included foot-care behavior s, patient self-foot examination, going barefoot, availability of foot -care assistance, and visits to health-care providers. The dependent v ariable was a foot wound on each foot at follow-up. In the find multiv ariate model, patients who rarely lubricated their feet had an increas ed risk of foot lesions, Increasing patient use of emollients may be k ey to preventing foot lesions.