Reviews: 2009 Vol: 1 Issue: 1
Role of community pharmacist in management and prevention diabetic foot ulcer and infections
Abstract
Pharmacist plays an important role in patients healthcare. Pharmacist is now becoming more patient oriented than product oriented and have brought many changes in life of patients. There are considerable evidence that patients counseling enhances patient compliance and improve the quality of life outcomes in diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the major complications of Diabetes mellitus. It occurs in 15% of all patients with diabetes and precedes 84% of all lower leg amputations. Sharp debridement and management of underlying infection and ischemia are also critical in the care of foot ulcers. Prompt and aggressive treatment of diabetic foot ulcers can often prevent exacerbation of the problem and eliminate the potential for amputation. The aim of therapy should be early intervention to allow prompt healing of the lesion and prevent recurrence once it is healed. Multidisciplinary management programs that focus on prevention, education, regular foot examinations, aggressive intervention, and optimal use of therapeutic footwear have demonstrated significant reductions in the incidence of lower-extremity amputations. Community Pharmacist play vital role Patient education regarding foot hygiene, nail care and proper footwear is crucial to reducing the risk of an injury that can lead to ulcer formation. Diabetes currently affects more than 194 million people worldwide and is expected to reach 333 million by 2025,with the maximum burdens falling upon developing countries. India considered as “Diabetic capital of the world��?, alone currently counts over 35 million peopleharbouring diabetes. This is estimated to touch 73.5million by 2025 as a consequence of longer life expectancy, sedentary lifestyle and changing dietary patterns.
Pharmacist plays an important role in patients healthcare. Pharmacist is now becoming more patient oriented than product oriented and have brought many changes in life of patients. There are considerable evidence that patients counseling enhances patient compliance and improve the quality of life outcomes in diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the major complications of Diabetes mellitus. It occurs in 15% of all patients with diabetes and precedes 84% of all lower leg amputations. Sharp debridement and management of underlying infection and ischemia are also critical in the care of foot ulcers. Prompt and aggressive treatment of diabetic foot ulcers can often prevent exacerbation of the problem and eliminate the potential for amputation. The aim of therapy should be early intervention to allow prompt healing of the lesion and prevent recurrence once it is healed. Multidisciplinary management programs that focus on prevention, education, regular foot examinations, aggressive intervention, and optimal use of therapeutic footwear have demonstrated significant reductions in the incidence of lower-extremity amputations. Community Pharmacist play vital role Patient education regarding foot hygiene, nail care and proper footwear is crucial to reducing the risk of an injury that can lead to ulcer formation. Diabetes currently affects more than 194 million people worldwide and is expected to reach 333 million by 2025,with the maximum burdens falling upon developing countries. India considered as “Diabetic capital of the world��?, alone currently counts over 35 million peopleharbouring diabetes. This is estimated to touch 73.5million by 2025 as a consequence of longer life expectancy, sedentary lifestyle and changing dietary patterns.