Global Consensus Demands Better Diabetic Foot Health Management

Basic Foot Care for Low-risk Patients is Critical to Reduce Complications

LONDON, February 28, 2011 - A global consensus published this month in Diabetic Medicine aims to help
people with diabetes who are presently at low-risk of foot complications to
undertake a basic foot care regimen in order to reduce their likelihood of
developing serious foot complications in the future. The consensus was
developed by ten global thought leaders to provide a practical educational
framework for all healthcare professionals managing patients with diabetes.

Information about foot health and foot self-care for people with diabetes
who are at low-risk of diabetes-related foot complications is currently very
limited. In response the consensus recommends the implementation of a four
step 'CARE' programme to improve the management of foot health:

    - Control: maintaining good blood glucose levels (in accordance with
      recommendations from the healthcare professional)

    - Annual: attending an annual foot screening examination with healthcare
      professionals

    - Report: reporting any changes in sensation, skin colour, breaks in the
      skin, swelling or pain immediately to healthcare professionals

    - Engage: undertaking a simple daily foot care routine by washing and
      drying between the toes, moisturising and checking for abnormalities

"The consensus should become a guide for healthcare professionals to help
communicate the importance of basic foot self-care to all people with
diabetes, particularly those currently at low-risk of foot complications."
comments consensus author Alistair McInnes, University of Brighton, UK.
"Basic foot care is simple, quick and empowers the patient to manage their
foot health more proactively, and can help reduce the likelihood of
complications later on."

Healthcare professionals need guidance on how best to educate and support
people with diabetes to undertake foot self-care, and it is important that
people with diabetes are able to manage their foot health from an early stage
to reduce the risk of foot complications in the future. People with diabetes
presently in this low-risk group can develop serious foot complications
relatively quickly in the absence of good glycaemic control and regular foot
self-care, which can facilitate the prompt identification of changes in the
feet. Diabetes can lead to the feet becoming prone to foot complications and
at risk of ulceration as a result of peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) and
circulatory problems.

Foot complications have a significant impact on healthcare systems across
the world and are responsible for more hospital bed days than all the other
diabetic complications combined(1). Foot ulcers and amputations are a
significant problem; 12% of people with diabetes who have a healed foot ulcer
will go on to have an amputation within five years(2).

Notes to editor:

The Scholl 'Think Feet' programme has been developed to raise awareness
and improve education regarding preventative foot care. Scholl is actively
working in association with people with diabetes, health professionals, key
opinion leaders and diabetes and podiatry associations in the development of
education materials to improve preventative foot care and to support people
in managing their foot health.

References:

1. Joseph WS, Lipsky BA. Medical therapy of diabetic foot infections. J
Am Podiatr Med Assoc;100(5):395-400.

2. Hunt D. Diabetes: foot ulcers and amputations. BMJ: Clinical Evidence:
BMJ, 2009.

For further information please contact: James Humphreys, james.humphreys at 90ten.co.uk, +44(0)20-7627-0990; Tarnia Ross, tarnia.ross at 90ten.co.uk, +44(0)20-7627-0990