Belitung Nursing Journal (Jun 2018)
INCREASING FOOT CIRCULATION WITH ELECTRICAL STIMULATION IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS
Abstract
Background: Peripheral arterial disorders in diabetes mellitus is a common complication that often occurs and can develop into diabetic foot ulcers. High blood sugar levels in people with diabetes mellitus can cause increased blood viscosity resulting in thickening of the capillary membrane, where erythrocytes, platelets and leucocytes are attached to the blood vessels. Electrical stimulation by placing electrodes in the calf muscle is one of the measures to increase foot blood flow that can reduce the poor foot circulation. Objective: This study aims to determine the effect of electrical stimulation in improving blood flow of patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods: The research use one-group pretest-posttest pre-experimental design. Sampling technique using pusposive sampling as many as 62 patients with diabetes mellitus. Electrical stimulation is done by attaching electrodes to left and right calf muscles for 20 minutes, frequency 3 times a week for 2 weeks. Before and after electrical stimulation performed foot circulation examination by ankle brachial index technique. Data analysis using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The results showed that before the stimulation was obtained the mean ankle brakhial index 0.82 mmHg and after stimulation 0.95 mmHg (p = 0.000), meaning there is an effect of electrical stimulation in increasing foot blood flow. A calf muscle contraction during stimulation leads to increased leg blood flow through the addition of vascular endothelial growth factor and increased nitric oxide as a vasodilator of blood vessels. Electrical stimulation can be applied in increasing the blood flow of the foot, thus preventing the occurrence of diabetic foot ulcers. Conclusion: Stimulation is one therapy that can be done to prevent poor foot circulation of diabetes mellitus patients.
