Management of Diabetic Foot Complications

Public and political concern about the increasing prevalence of diabetes has prompted major concern about treatment of patients with the condition. Foot complications are some of the commonest causes of hospitalisation of people with diabetes and if not treated well often lead to amputation. There is evidence that 85% of these amputations can be prevented by better understanding of the problem and by multi-disciplinary teams working more effectively together. This has been recognised and NICE have recently published guidelines on diabetic foot complications as have Diabetes UK and NHS Diabetes. These have been successful in raising awareness of the problem but the local multi-disciplinary teams need clear practical advice on how to manage the foot in diabetes and deliver high quality care. With the current interest in improving outcomes for patients with foot complications this is an ideal time to make a practical evidence-based handbook available. This book will provide clear practical guidelines on how to manage all aspects of the foot in diabetes as well as an in-depth analysis of the most recent evidence. The book will be based on care pathways with algorithms for each section so it would be of practical value in any clinic in primary or secondary care. It will appeal to a wide range of health care professionals treating people with diabetes: vascular surgeons and trainees, orthopaedic surgeons, diabetes specialist nurses, podiatrists and tissue viability nurses.