Practical guidelines on the management and prevention of the diabetic foot 2011.

Foot complications are among the most serious and costly complications of diabetes mellitus. Amputation of the lower extremity or part of it is usually preceded by a foot ulcer. A strategy that includes prevention, patient and staff education, multidisciplinary 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%. The basic principles of prevention and treatment described in these guidelines are based on the International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot. Depending on local circumstances, these principles have to be translated for local use, taking into account regional differences in socio-economics, accessibility to health care, and cultural factors. These practical guidelines are aimed at healthcare workers involved in the care of people with diabetes. For more details and information on treatment by specialists in foot care, the reader is referred to the International Consensus document.