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%.
