Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) rank among the most severe complications of diabetes mellitus, significantly impacting patient health, increasing mortality, and incurring substantial costs for the healthcare systems. With a global prevalence of approximately 6,4% among diabetics and causing up to 85% of all non-traumatic lower limb amputations, DFUs represent a significant burden. The risk of death for patients with DFUs is more than double compared to diabetics without ulcers, highlighting the need for effective prevention and management of these conditions alongside the continuously rising economic costs of treating diabetes and its complications. Peripheral neuropathy and vascular disorders, common in diabetics, increase susceptibility to ulcers due to reduced sensitivity and impaired healing. The treatment of DFUs is complex and challenging, and even after successful healing, the risk of recurrence is high. Preventing the onset and recurrence of DFUs is crucial not only for improving the quality of life of patients but also for reducing economic costs.

As part of preventive measures, special diabetic footwear has proven to be an effective means of reducing the risk of new ulcers. Our multicentric retrospective analysis focuses on evaluating the effect of prophylactic footwear diawin on preventing ulcer relapses in patients with diabetes mellitus. The data collection process involved not only examination by a diabetologist and evaluation of medical records but also personal interviews with patients. The goal of the study was to provide evidence of the effectiveness of these preventive strategies and contribute to a better understanding of their significance in clinical practice. In our study, 116 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy and a history of ulceration were included, with 82 in the experimental group wearing diabetic footwear diawin for at least 20 months and 60% of the active time during the day, while 34 were in the control group without specialized footwear. The experimental group showed a significantly lower percentage of ulcer relapses (13.41%) compared to the control group (61.76%), with a p-value of < 0.0001. Diabetic footwear diawin effectively reduces the incidence of foot ulcer relapses by 78.28% during the observed period. Cumulative survival without ulcers was significantly higher in patients wearing diawin diabetic footwear, highlighting the significant role of specialized footwear in the DFU prevention. The study findings confirm that diabetic footwear with specifically defined features significantly reduce the risk of recurrence of diabetic foot ulcers. These results support the use of specialized footwear as an effective preventive strategy in managing complications associated with diabetic foot, thereby improving patient quality of life and reducing the pressure on the healthcare systems.