[Educational activities for the prevention of diabetic foot: foot complications at the Center for Diabetes of Rovigo]. / L'attività educativa per la prevenzione delle ulcere nel piede diabetico: i risultati del CAD di Rovigo.

Diabetic patients with neuropathic or vascular foot ulcers are described and stratified according to their background risk profiles, as these relate to socioeconomic, behavioural and clinical variables. Of the 464 patients admitted to the foot clinic between January 2000 and December 2001 only 39% had been involved in educational activities for diabetic foot prevention. Seventy-five percent of the patients experienced neurologic problems; 76% socioeconomic risk factors, also related to the economical situation (unsuitable shoes, no sessions with the pedicure). Among the 112 patients with ulcers relapses, in spite of the participation to educational interventions, unsuitable shoes were the most frequently reported precipitating factor. Larger samples and prospective multicentre studies are required to assess the possible yield of educational interventions aiming at controlling the care burden and at avoiding the risk of major amputations.