Diabetic peripheral screening in a health centre in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

Resumo

Introduction: The prevalence of Diabetes is 7,6% for the Brazilian population between 30 and 69 years old and, in Ribeirão Preto, the prevalence is 15.02%. The most common complication of Diabetes type 2 is the diabetic neuropathy, which occurs in 60-70% of diabetic patients. The screening of diabetic peripheral neuropathy is performed by testing the sensibility of the feet with the Semmes-Weinsten monofilament.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the screening of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients which are attended in a family health centre.

Methodology or experience description: Information about diabetic peripheral neuropathy diagnosis, through the testing of sensibility of the feet with the monofilament, were collected from prontuaries of 80 diabetic patients, attended in a family health centre, in the northern district of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Results: The data was collected from 80 prontuaries of diabetic patients, which represent 47.9% of all the diabetic patients attended in the health centre. 29 (36.25%) patients were men and 51 (63%) were women. The mean age was 61.5 (14.4) years old. 39 diabetic patients (48.75%) had the last consultation within the last 3 months, the mean fasting blood sugar was 133 (68.99) and the mean HbA1c was 8.64% (0.012). The feet sensibility examination with the monofilament was performed in only 9.87% of the patients.

Conclusions or Hypothesis: The screening for diabetic peripheral neuropathy was either not thoroughly performed or not correctly registered. Considering the lack of appropriate material to test the feet sensibility in most of the health centres in Brazil, it is difficult for the family healthcare teams screen for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.