Awareness Level and Practice of DiabeticFoot Prevention among Diabetic Patientsin the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes is a group of metabolic illnesses characterized by a substantial increase in blood
glucose levels and disruptions to the metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Diabetes is associated
with a number of complications, both macro- and micro-vascular. There are more than 463 million diabetics in
the world. By 2040, 642 million more people worldwide are expected to have diabetes than already do. We thus
prepared this study in the hopes of raising awareness among diabetics, since, despite the fact that diabetic foot
is one of the most dangerous consequences of diabetes, there are no awareness programs about it, and diabetics
have poor levels of awareness and understanding about it. Objectives: The main objective of this study was
to measure the knowledge level among diabetic patients about diabetic foot and to assess the adherence level
among diabetic patients to foot care. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational research was
carried out on Saudi Arabian diabetes patients from July 2024 to February 2025. The responses provided by
participants served as the source of data. Demographic details, such as age, gender, and educational attainment
were included in the T questionnaire. The sample size with a 95% confidence level was determined using the
Qualtrics calculator; 384 was the minimum sample size that could be employed. include all people with diabetes
mellitus (DM) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who are 18 years of age or older, regardless of gender, including
both types 1 and 2 DM. Results: This study aimed to assess the awareness and practices regarding diabetic foot
care among 469 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia. Findings revealed a significant knowledge gap, with only
43.9% demonstrating high awareness of essential foot care practices despite 88.3% recognizing the dangers
of foot ulcers. While 68.2% exhibited positive attitudes toward foot care, only 16.6% practiced recommended
foot care behaviors effectively. Alarmingly, 79.5% only sought foot check-ups when symptomatic, highlighting
a critical deficiency in preventive care. Statistically significant relationships were found between knowledge
and factors, such as gender and occupational status, indicating the need for targeted educational interventions
to improve foot care practices among diabetic patients.