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Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic non-communicable disease with high morbidity and mortality. One complication of DM is neuropathy which has a risk of developing diabetic feet and ulcers. This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of self-management support in increasing knowledge and foot health of DM patients in Patukan Hamlet, Sleman, Yogyakarta. This research was a quasi-experiment (non-randomized, non-control group) on DM sufferers (total sampling, n=10). The interventions carried out are comprehensive self-management support, including DM education, foot exercise, and calendar checkpoint. The observation period was carried out for one month after the intervention. This study's results show that knowledge increased but insignificant (p=0.564) after being given DM education. The difference in random blood test results (P=0.799) and ABI (Ankle Brachial Index) (right foot, P=0.767 and left foot, p=0.221) score were insignificant. It can be concluded that self-management support intervention can increase patients' knowledge, and there is no evidence of an increased risk of foot DM in participants. Comprehensive education could enhance DM patients' knowledge. DM patients need to increase their self-care capacity, hence continuous education and support are needed to prevent various complications of DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is defined as the ratio of the Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) measured at the ankle to the SBP measured at the brachial artery. Studies show that ABI can also indicate atherosclerosis at various vascular sites. Therefore it can be used as a prognostic marker tool for cardiovascular events and functional impairments, even in the absence of symptoms of peripheral artery diseases (PAD). The standard threshold value of ABI value of 0.9 appears to be lower in patients with complications. A pilot study has been conducted on 77 subjects. Results show that ABI measurement can be used as a screening tool for PAD but requires further larger study for its consolidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims at assessing the involvement of the peripheral nervous system for patients with ischemic pathology of the lower limbs. We studied relationships between the ankle brachial index and peripheral nerve function among 60 male patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The ankle brachial index was measured using a handheld Doppler probe. Nerve function was measured in the motor fibres of the peroneal and tibial nerves and the sensitive fibres of sural nerve. Our study has shown in patients with peripheral arterial disease without diabetes mellitus (DM) an axonal degeneration, resulting in axonal polyneuropathy. In patients with PAD and type 2 diabetes mellitus the demyelination signs were predominant. The secondary impairment of peripheral nerves in PAD is frequently encountered in current clinical practice. The data resulted from our study highlight the fact that PAD cause nerve damage, mainly affected being the patients with PAD and DM. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]