The South African Diabetic Foot Working Group (DFWG)
is a voluntary association which serves as the
overall representative body to promote awareness
and optimal management of people with diabetic
foot problems. Objectives include the prevention
of amputation, promoting academic standards and
the establishment of relationships amongst role
players.
Patients Corner
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%
