Abstract
Non-communicable diseases became the leading cause of global mortality almost a decade ago and the epidemic of diabetes is one of its major contributors. Diabetes affects more than 415 million people across the world and the diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of its prime manifestations. The magnitude of this problem, which impacts 1 in 4 people with diabetes during his or her lifetime, necessitates an organized response to care delivery. It has been demonstrated repeatedly that amputation rates in people with diabetes can be dramatically reduced when patients with diabetes receive care from an integrated, coordinated team of dedicated clinicians from multiple disciplines, especially teams that include foot specialists and vascular specialists. This chapter begins with a brief outline of the history and evolution of the team approach. It then presents in detail an organized algorithm based on the underlying pathophysiology of the DFU and the skillsets needed to manage it to create a model for integrated diabetic foot care to prevent unnecessary amputations and improve quality of life for those affected.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 147-160 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Frontiers in Diabetes |
Volume | 26 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2017 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Internal Medicine
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Endocrinology