Based upon: The International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot (2007)
Prepared by the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot

Foot complications are among the most serious and costly complications of diabetes mellitus. Amputation of all or part of a lower extremity is usually preceded by a foot ulcer. A strategy which includes prevention, patient and staff education, multi-disciplinary treatment of foot ulcers, and close monitoring can reduce amputation rates by 49-85%. Therefore, several countries and organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the International Diabetes Federation, have set goals to reduce the rate of amputations by up to 50%.

The basic principles of prevention and treatment described in these guidelines are based on the International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot. Depending on local circumstances, these principles have to be translated for local use, taking into account regional differences in socio-economics, accessibility to healthcare and cultural factors. These Practical guidelines are aimed at healthcare workers involved in the care of people with diabetes. For more details and information on treatment by specialists in foot care, the reader is referred to the International Consensus document.