Correlation of C-Reactive Protein Level with Glycemic Control in Diabetic Foot Patients and Its Sequelae: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Observational Study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2683Keywords:
Diabetic foot, C-reactive protein, Glycemic control, Fasting blood sugar, Postprandial blood sugar, Wagner classification, Amputation, Wound healingAbstract
Background:
Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious lower-extremity complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus and is strongly influenced by infection, vascular compromise, neuropathy, and adequacy of glycemic control. C-reactive protein is an accessible inflammatory marker that can support risk assessment in patients with infected or progressive diabetic foot lesions.
Objectives:
To assess the relationship between C-reactive protein levels and glycemic control among patients with diabetic foot and to evaluate its association with healing and amputation outcomes.
Methods:
This prospective observational study included 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic foot admitted to the Department of General Surgery, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, from January 2024 to December 2024. Fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar, and C-reactive protein were measured. Ulcer severity was graded using Wagner’s classification. Patients received institutional medical and surgical care, and outcomes were classified as healed or amputated. Descriptive statistics, Fisher’s exact test, and correlation analysis were used.
Results:
Fasting blood sugar ranged from 126 to 225 mg/dL, and postprandial blood sugar ranged from 200 to 398 mg/dL. Wagner grade 1 was the most common presentation. Overall, 89 patients healed, and 11 underwent amputation. C-reactive protein was above 40 mg/L in 34 patients. All amputations occurred in this elevated C-reactive protein group, while no amputation was recorded among patients with C-reactive protein below 40 mg/L. C-reactive protein showed statistically significant positive correlations with postprandial blood sugar and fasting blood sugar.
Conclusion:
Elevated C-reactive protein was associated with poor glycemic control, greater ulcer severity, delayed wound recovery, and amputation risk in diabetic foot patients.
Recommendations:
Routine combined assessment of glycemic indices, ulcer grade, and C-reactive protein should be used for early risk stratification and timely multidisciplinary care.
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