Did you know that diabetes related complications worldwide result in a lower limb amputation every 30 seconds? People with diabetes are estimated to be up to 30 times more likely to have an amputation than those in the general population and the majority of diabetes related amputations are caused by a foot ulcer failing to heal. These are some of the reasons we launched the Putting Feet First campaign and want to work with you to help bring these amputation rates down.
We are working to make sure that an integrated foot care pathway is in place in every area of the UK.
Resources to improve local foot care services:
- Take part in theNational Diabetes Footcare Audit
- Foot care service for people with diabetes: Guidance for commissionershas recently been produced by the London Diabetes Strategic Clinical Network and details the provision of a foot service for people with diabetes according to best practice guidance.
- Commissioning or planning an integrated foot care pathway for people with diabetes (PDF, 435KB) sets out the foot services that should be available for people with diabetes at different levels of risk.
- Fixing footcare in Sheffield: Improving the pathway (PDF, 257KB) describes how the diabetes team at Sheffield NHS Foundation Trust dramatically reduced their amputation rates by introducing some simple, proven quality improvement techniques.
- The Diabetes Footcare Training Pack has been developed by the Cheshire and Merseyside SCN to support the training of a competent workforce across Merseyside and beyond.
- Local Footcare Activity Profiles provide information on the care of people with diabetes who are admitted to hospital for a range of footcare conditions.
- Foot Care for People with Diabetes: The Economic Case for Change provides evidence of the cost of foot care to the NHS.
Resources to improve your clinical skills:
- The Foot Risk Awareness and Management Education (FRAME) website describes how to do a quality foot check.
- Our Risk Assessment tool can be used to stratify patients based on their level of risk.
Leaflets to use in your consultations:
- What to expect at your annual foot check is a guide for patients that explains what they should expect at their annual foot check and what problems to look out for in caring for their feet.
- Simple steps to healthy feet gives general foot care tips suitable for all people with diabetes.
- How to spot a foot attack is designed for health care professionals to explain the signs and symptoms of a 'foot attack' to people with diabetes who are at increased and high risk of foot problems.
- The Touch the Toes test is a way to get people more involved in their foot care. It is a quick easy assessment of the sensitivity in their feet. It doesn’t replace a quality foot check by a trained healthcare professional.
See our position statements and care recommendations to influence delivery of care in your area (including service redesign).
Are you working locally to improve foot care services for people with diabetes? We would love to hear from you. Contact us at sharedpractice@diabetes.org.uk.