Diabetic foot problems are common throughout the world, and the economic consequences are significant, both to society and to the patients and their families.
When assessing use of resources, it is important not to focus on individual items such as dressings or procedures. Rather, a broader view of total resource use that includes some estimate of quality of life and the final outcome should be taken.
The key question remains as to how we can reduce the morbidity and even mortality resulting from diabetic foot disease.
"The answer might not be too difficult. The key recommendation is a national campaign to encourage healthcare professionals merely to remove patients' shoes and socks and examine the feet.
Unfortunately, this simple advice is largely ignored in many countries.
Identification of the at-risk foot does not require any expensive equipment:
a tuning fork, pin, tendon hammer, and a 10-g monofilament should suffice.
When planning an educational program, it should be remembered that patients might not understand the meaning or implications of the terms "neuropathy" or "foot ulcer." Thus, education should be tailored to the patient's understanding and social background.
Organization of the foot care service is important—
an integrated carc approach can improve patients' outcomes by reducing disability, morbidity, and mortality. Even in large countries (e.g. China and India), where diabetes is common and most people live in rural areas, a screening program can be highly effective with little extra cost to the healthcare system.
Finally, many societies have issued guidelines for diabetic foot care; most of these guidelines include the essential components of recommended patient education.
When assessing use of resources, it is important not to focus on individual items such as dressings or procedures. Rather, a broader view of total resource use that includes some estimate of quality of life and the final outcome should be taken.
The key question remains as to how we can reduce the morbidity and even mortality resulting from diabetic foot disease.
"The answer might not be too difficult. The key recommendation is a national campaign to encourage healthcare professionals merely to remove patients' shoes and socks and examine the feet.
Unfortunately, this simple advice is largely ignored in many countries.
Identification of the at-risk foot does not require any expensive equipment:
a tuning fork, pin, tendon hammer, and a 10-g monofilament should suffice.
When planning an educational program, it should be remembered that patients might not understand the meaning or implications of the terms "neuropathy" or "foot ulcer." Thus, education should be tailored to the patient's understanding and social background.
Organization of the foot care service is important—
an integrated carc approach can improve patients' outcomes by reducing disability, morbidity, and mortality. Even in large countries (e.g. China and India), where diabetes is common and most people live in rural areas, a screening program can be highly effective with little extra cost to the healthcare system.
Finally, many societies have issued guidelines for diabetic foot care; most of these guidelines include the essential components of recommended patient education.
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