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%
