The diabetic foot : worldwide crisis : time to act now!

Abstract

Every 20 seconds a limb is lost somewhere in the world due to diabetes! Moreover, every 1.2 seconds someone develops a diabetic foot ulceration. Every 7 seconds someone dies from diabetes. Lower-extremity complications of diabetes constitute a substantial burden for people with diabetes. Once healed, foot ulcerations frequently recur. This may suggest that current management of the diabetic foot is not effective, clearly demonstrating the need for the implementation of new and effective strategies aimed primarily at prevention of ulceration. The time to referral will determine the number of ulcerations and re-ulcerations or alternatively ulcerfree days – in other words Time is Tissue! We need to act now without further delay!