This is a new guideline from NICE on assessing and managing people with diabetic foot problems.
Foot problems are very common in people with diabetes and come with huge morbidity. The following are some surprising statistics:
- 10% of people with diabetes will get a foot ulcer at some point in their lives.
- 1 in 3 people with diabetes over the age of 50 have peripheral arterial disease.
- 50% of those with an ulcer will die within 5 yrs
- 70% will die within 5 yrs of an amputation.
Risk Assessment of patients
The following are risk factors for diabetic foot problems:
- Neuropathy
- Limb ischaemia
- Ulceration.
- Callus.
- Infection and/or inflammation.
- Deformity.
- Gangrene.
- Charcot arthropathy (beware redness, warmth, swelling or deformity – though deformity and pain may not be present)